The Philippine National Police Maritime Group-San Carlos and members of the Bantay Dagat Task Force intercepted six fishermen allegedly involved in illegal fishing activities in the waters of Sipaway Island recently.
The seaborne patrol at the Camotes Reef in Barangay San Juan, Sipaway led to the arrest of the fishermen from Brgy. Matab-ang, Toledo City in Cebu, P/SMS Jessie Cordova, chief of the PNP Maritime Group said, adding that the offenders were fined P5,000 each.
Cordova said they also confiscated P70,000 worth of paraphernalia, such as fine mesh nets, active gear, two compressors, a wooden motorized banca, an 18-meter-long hose, wooden paddle, four modified flashlights, wooden fins, improvised spear guns, and 15 liters of gasoline, which are now under the custody of the PNP-Maritime Group.
The 50 kilos of fish were turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as food donation to persons deprived of liberty, a press release from the city said Jan. 31.
Cordova also said that citation tickets were issued to the offenders, for violating City Ordinance 56, series of 2017, which bans the use of compressors, for fishing within the Marine Protected Area (MPA), and for using illegal methods, under Republic Act 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
“Measures will be implemented to avoid the situation from happening again through the conduct of regular seaborne patrols along with the Bantay Dagat personnel to ensure security within the municipal water jurisdiction, which is 50 kilometers from the city’s shoreline,” Cordova added.
Following the incident, the local PNP Maritime Group with the Coastal Resources Management Division of the City Environment Management Office strengthened the campaign to ensure sustainable and responsible fishing, through information dissemination activities, participated in by fisherfolk.
An assessment will also be conducted on Feb. 4 at the Marine Protected Area to check if there are damages underwater related to the incident. | NND
