ILOILO – Thirteen fishermen from San Remigio, Cebu were apprehended off the coast of Barangay Asluman, Carles town for illegal fishing.
The Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force led by Police Officer 1 Hendrick Bunday and Marvin Frech Saturnino caught the fishermen onboard F/B Seagull using the forbidden Danish seine on June 1.
An inquest investigation was endorsed to the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on June 2 and administrative charges were filed at the Adjudication Committee of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 on June 4.
The fishermen were charged for unauthorized fishing and violating the ban on the use of destructive fishing method under Section 86 and 97 of Republic Act 10654, respectively.
The task force confiscated their fishing vessel and fishing paraphernalia such as tom weight with pair of steel rings, four rolls of scaring lines, and Danish seine fish nets.
Their fish catch – 116 tubs of assorted fish – were also seized and distributed for the consumption of patients admitted at the Sara District Hospital (municipality of Sara), Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital (municipality of Balasan), Ajuy Rural Health Unit (municipality of Ajuy) and for the inmates in Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, Batad, San Dionisio, and Sara.
The fishermen were given the chance to settle their administrative violations in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources otherwise a formal complaint will be filed against the owner of the fishing vessel. (Jezza Nepomoceno, Iloilo Capitol/PN)
