2 fishing operators get P1.2 million fine

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has imposed over P1.2 million fines against two fishing boat operators found practicing Danish Seine, locally known as “hulbot-hulbot,” in northern Cebu.

The two medium-scale commercial boat operators were apprehended on October 10, 2020 in the seawaters off Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island by the Fisheries Resource Protection Group (FRPG).

The FRPG then filed administrative complaints before the BFAR-7 Adjudication Committee secretariat headed by Atty. Mary Rose Lituañas, citing violations on certain provisions of Republic Act 10654, also known as “An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing,” which amended RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The violators faced administrative liability for violating Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 246-1 that declares the ban of Danish Seine and modified Danish Seine fishing in Philippine waters.

Each violator was penalized with over P600,000 in settlement fine.

The fish catch of the two fishing boat operators was turned over to the Santa Fe municipal government for proper disposal.

BFAR-7 admitted fishermen in the region still practice illegal fishing.

With the recent apprehension, BFAR-7 said this would serve as a warning to the operators of Danish Seine or modified Danish Seine fishing method that they would face sanctions for practicing this highly destructive illegal way of fishing. — GMR (FREEMAN)