Vietnamese fishermen caught poaching off Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently apprehended 10 Vietnamese fishermen on board two boats allegedly caught illegally fishing in Northern Luzon.

PCG spokesman Captain Armand Balilo said that PCG and BFAR personnel chanced upon the two Vietnamese fishing boats in separate sites while they were allegedly poaching near Dalupiri Island and Calayan Island in Cagayan province early Saturday morning. ?Initial information reaching PCG headquarters showed that at around 1:30 a.m. last Saturday, the PCG and BFAR personnel were jointly manning the monitoring control and surveillance vessel MCS 3010 and conducting patrol when they chanced upon the Vietnamese fishing boat with body number BO 96281 with five Vietnamese fishermen on board. 

When the MCS 3010 moved closer to the Vietnamese boat, the boat started its engine and slipped away from the authorities.

The MCS 3010 then pursued and stopped the fishing boat and the Vietnamese captain and his four crewmen were apprehended.

“During the chase, the Vietnamese boat reportedly rammed the MCS 3010 twice. The MCS 3010 sustained a hole and its railing was damaged,” said Balilo.

Two hours later, the PCG and BFAR sighted another Vietnamese vessel with body number BO 95115 suspected to be poaching within Philippine waters.

The vessel with its captain and four crewmen also attempted to flee, but they were caught when the MCS 3010 conducted hot pursuit. 

The two Vietnamese fishing boats and 10 fishermen were brought to Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan for further investigation.

“The Vietnamese fishermen were turned over to the BFAR Law Enforcement Team that will determine what charges would be filed against them. One possible violation is poaching because they were illegally fishing in Philippine waters,” added Balilo.

The PCG had earlier received several complaints of foreign fishermen poaching in Philippine waters. – With Raymund Catindig