ILOILO – Nine fishermen onboard two boats were arrested for allegedly engaging in dynamite fishing in Concepcion town.
According to the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force, eight fishermen were residents of Carles town and one was from Batad.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, whose office oversees the operation of the taskforce, said one fishing boat was apprehended near Colebra Island, Talotoan and the other one was caught near Salvacion Island on Friday, Dec. 8.
The arrested fishermen and the seized boats were brought to the Concepcion Municipal Police Station.
“The successful operation was made possible with good intelligence gathering and the use of our two new speedboats. Our dedicated and determined policemen and Bantay Dagat crew will continue and sustain our operation against illegal fishing,” Banias said.
Last week, Banias said they were intensifying the campaign against illegal fishing, adding that blast or dynamite fishing persisted in northern Iloilo.
Blast fishing is an illegal and environmentally destructive practice involving the use of explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection.
“As you see we are operating in the whole province although we are right now based in northern Iloilo. Kag sa pagdugang ni governor (Arthur Defensor Jr.) sang duha ka speedboats, i-step up naton ang campaign against illegal fishing,” said Banias.
Aside from two speedboats, the provincial government also procured P2 million worth of fuel for these.
On Nov. 15, Defensor issued Executive Order (EO) No. 393 delegating to the Provincial Administrator’s Office the operation, maintenance and management of the taskforce.
The EO stated the Provincial Administrator’s Office shall ensure the operational capability of the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force by:
* facilitating all procurement of fuel, equipment, devices, and vehicles necessary for the operation of the taskforce;
* undertaking the repair and maintenance of all equipment and floating assets of the Bantay Dagat Task Force; and
* perform other tasks that may be delegated by the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force./PN
