Task force nabs illegal fishers

CEBU, Philippines - More than 30 fishermen were taken into custody by the Task Force Against Illegal Fishing of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) after they were caught illegally fishing in the municipal waters of Sta. Fe and Madridejos, Bantayan Island last Monday.

PENRO chief, lawyer Chad Estella, said the fishermen were caught on board two different commercial vessels using fine mesh fishing nets or those nets measuring less than 3 centimeters, which are prohibited.

Based on Provincial Ordinance 2012-05, fishing activities in municipal waters within the province's jurisdiction is prohibited especially with the use of fishing gear that can destroy coral reefs, seagrass beds and other fishery and marine life habitat.

Estella said a lawyer of the one of the owners of the fishing boats spoke with him yesterday and said they are willing to pay the administrative fine.

According to provincial ordinance, a penalty of P5,000 will be imposed for illegal fishing activities on top of the confiscation of equipments used in engaging such activities.

But Estella said they still have to determine the amount of fine since it would also depend on quantity of fish that were confiscated.

"In lieu of the filing pwede sila magpa-arbitrate mobayad lang sila sa administrative fine," Estella said.

Of the two fishing vessels seized, 51 big basins full of fish were confiscated from the vessel, Laura Lavi, in Sta. Fe while 21 basins were seized from RAV 2 in Madridejos.

One big basin reportedly can contain 35 to 40 kilos of fish.

PENRO still has to determine the total amount of the seized fish since it contained various kinds of fishes.

But Estella said that they have made an inventory and have distributed the fish to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) and other charitable institutions.

Loreto Pagsikaran, one of the fishermen who was taken into custody, admitted that they have been doing this for a long time and is wary that the activity is illegal.

He said that since they don't have other means of living, they continue to do so even with the fear of getting caught.

In a day, he said they can fill up at least 50 big basins of fish. He stressed though that they don't use dynamites for fishing but only big nets.

Based on the pictures shown by Loy Madrigal, head of the Capitol's Civil Security Unit and also part of the Task Force that apprehended the fishermen, the nets on the boats were fine-netted.

Madrigal said they will have more operations in various parts of the province but he also challenged Bantay Dagat of the municipalities and cities particularly in Sta. Fe and Madridejos to intensify their operations as it is their primary obligation to monitor seas within their respective jurisdiction.

Gov. Hilario Davide III said that this is in line with his aim to intensify implementation of environmental laws specifically anti-illegal fishing in the province.

"We really have to enforce our fisheries laws, all laws a matter of fact. Pakit-on nato sila na we are serious really in our drive against illegal fishing," stressed Davide.

Estella said the ordinance has long been there but has not been implemented well.

"Taudtaud na atong balaud. But wala gi-implement or for whatever reason wala ma-implement og tarong but karon ang giingon sa atong governor i-implement gyud maski kinsa maligsan," Estella added.- (FREEMAN)