SFB Engagement With ESSCOM Command Team
On Friday, August 21, 2026, Terence Lim of Stop Fish Bombing Malaysia met with ESSCOM Commander Datuk Victor Sanjos along with the senior command staff at their headquarters in Lahad Datu.
ESSCOM (Eastern Sabah Security Command) is is a Malaysian security agency created in March 2013 to protect the east coast of Sabah from maritime threats, piracy, and cross-border crime.
Key Discussion Points & Outcomes:
Acoustic Fish Bomb Detection Technology: The Commander and leadership team expressed strong interest in SFB’s underwater detection capabilities and its application for marine security in eastern Sabah.
Data Trends & Sensor Maintenance: Clarified questions regarding the recent dip in detection numbers, explaining that unmaintained hydrophone sensors—caused by current funding constraints—led to gaps in data capture rather than a true drop in blast activity.
Inter-Agency Collaboration: ESSCOM is keen to explore formal collaborative frameworks and will work to bring in relevant government departments and enforcement agencies to strengthen coordinated responses.
State Funding Support: Acknowledging our operational and maintenance funding hurdles, ESSCOM expressed support to help SFB engage with the Sabah State Government to secure backing for ongoing sensor deployment and upkeep.
BlueBoat Capability Expansion: The command team showed keen interest in expanding autonomous surface vessel (USV) capabilities—specifically utilizing BlueBoat for detecting boat incursions into Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). SFB will take the lead in developing this capability.