Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) officials found scores of illegal fishing nets floating on the surface of the fairway in the Inner Harbour on Tuesday.
In order to ensure navigation safety, the bureau immediately contacted the Macau Customs Service to assist in a joint clean up exercise, according to a DSAMA statement yesterday.
The DSAMA officials cleared about 1,000 metres of fishing nets, while Customs Service officers were maintaining nearby marine traffic order, the statement noted.
The case did not cause any impact on local marine navigation, the statement said.
The statement pointed out that according to the Macau Maritime Law, in order to ensure navigation safety, fishing or placing fishing facilities on or near fairways is prohibited. Offenders face a fine of up to 15,000 patacas.
Should a maritime accident be caused by fishing or fishing facilities, apart from facing a fine, offenders also face civil and even criminal liabilities, the statement noted.
This undated handout photo from the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) shows workers removing fishing nets from the Inner Harbour fairway.
