Isu keterancaman keselamatan perairan Mersing dan pulau-pulau di sekitarnya (Security threat issues in Mersing waters and the surrounding islands)

Abstract

Kawasan perairan Mersing termasuk pulau-pulau di sekitarnya telah digazetkan sebagai Taman Laut pada tahun 1985 disebabkan oleh kerajaan ingin memelihara khazanah marin dan juga artifak bernilai yang terdapat di dasar laut. Sebagai kawasan terpelihara, namun Taman Laut sering menghadapi keterancaman disebabkan oleh tindakan manusia sendiri. Makalah ini bertujuan meneliti isu keterancaman keselamatan Taman Laut Mersing dan membincangkan usaha mengekalkan keselamatan serta pemuliharaan Taman Laut ini. Kaedah pengutipan data adalah melalui maklumat sekunder daripada Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia Jabatan Marin, Jabatan Taman Laut Johor, Jabatan Perikanan dan Polis Marin, akhbar serta data primer melalui temu bual bersemuka. Kajian ini mendapati, pulau-pulau di sekitar Mersing sedang menghadapi isu yang dikaitkan dengan ancaman lanun, pencerobohan nelayan asing, pelanggaran syarat menangkap ikan dan juga kecurian artifak bernilai di dasar laut. Makalah ini juga turut membincangkan beberapa implikasi ancaman tersebut dan mengemukakan beberapa cadangan yang perlu ke arah melindungi keselamatan perairan Mersing ini.

Katakunci: Akta Imigresen, Akta Perikanan, Akta Taman Laut, keselamatan maritim, pemuliharan, Taman Laut

Mersing waters including their islands were gazetted as a marine park in 1985 mainly because the government wants to preserve the marine treasures and valuable artifacts found on the seabed. As protected areas, marine parks are so vulnerable to damage mostly caused by human action. This article aims at examining the threats faced by Mersing Marine Park and to discuss efforts in maintaining the security and preservation of the marine park. Data collection was done through secondary sources such as from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Marine Department, Johor Marine Park Department, Fisheries Department and Marine Police, newspapers. Primary data was collected through personal interviews. The study reveals that the islands around Mersing are facing issues associated with the threat of piracy, invasion by foreign fishermen, breaching of fishing conditions and selling of valuable artifacts from the seabed. This article also discusses some implications of the threats and proposes security measures that can be taken to proctect Mersing waters.

Keywords: conservation, Fisheries Act, Immigration Act, Marine Park, Marine Park Act, maritime security