CEBU, Philippines - Over 100 kilos of blasted fish were seized by the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission just as they were about to be sold at the Pasil Fish Market yesterday dawn.
Col. Cesar Sebusa, project director of the Bantay Dagat Commission, said two boxes of assorted fish worth about P14,200 tested positive for dynamite fishing.
Sebusa said it was at 1:30 am yesterday when the team inspected five trucks that arrived to deliver sea food products at the Pasil Fish Market.
One of the trucks with plate number GDR 154 contained two boxes of blasted fishes mixed with boxes of chilled squids.
The confiscated fish include “dangit”, “molmol”, “dalagang bukid” and “alibangbang”, among others.
The confiscated fish was suspected to come from northern fish ports in Bogo City and Medellin town.
The driver, Belino Salinas, denied he owns the products and refused to name the name of the owner. The transport permit, however, revealed that the shipper is a certain Doming Denaspas.
Sebusa said that they cannot file a case unless ownership of the seized fish is established.
Anyone who will sell blasted fish is liable under Republic Act 4003 or the Fisheries Act of the Philippines.
R.A. 4003 prohibits dynamite fishing and selling of dynamited fish products in the markets.
The confiscated fish will be donated to charitable institutions. Though blasted, the fishes are safe to eat.
Dynamite fishing and other illegal forms of fishing are prohibited because they damage to natural marine life. — (FREEMAN)