Haze Has Not Impacted National Fishing Operations, Department Of Fisheries Confirms

BUTTERWORTH, Oct 11 – The ongoing nationwide haze has not disrupted maritime fishing activities, with the Department of Fisheries (DOF) confirming it has received zero reports of operational disruptions from coastal or deep-sea fishermen.

DOF Senior Director (Capture Fisheries Resources) Ruzaidi Mamat released the operational update during the launching ceremony of the Kha Yang 666 carrier vessel at the Inner Wharf in Butterworth on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

Despite normal fishing operations continuing, Ruzaidi urged all maritime operators and coastal fishermen to exercise heightened caution during navigation due to reduced visual clarity.

Safety Warnings, Vessel Launch, and Air Quality Monitoring

The department outlined ongoing safety advisories and sector tracking as environmental conditions fluctuate:

• Navigational Safety Warning: The DOF cautioned vessel captains and small-craft fishermen that declining atmospheric visibility could pose severe collision hazards and jeopardize safety at sea.
• Carrier Vessel Launch: The newly launched Kha Yang 666, owned by Kha Yang Marine Sdn Bhd, is a registered Malaysian-flagged tuna transport vessel operating out of its home port in Penang.
• Continuous Situation Monitoring: The department confirmed it will continue tracking air quality indices and assess any potential secondary impacts on marine supply chains.
• Worsening Haze Context: The announcement comes as 15 areas across Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 9:00 AM on Sunday, with Pasir Gudang in Johor logging the national high of 180.

–NMT