TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Charges have been filed against 34 persons for alleged illegal fishing through the use of banned fishing gears in this Cagayan province’s northern coast earlier this week.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the fishermen-cum-crew were also charged for conducting commercial fishing within the jurisdiction of local government-manned waters.
BFAR said the charges have been formally filed before the Aparri municipal trial court and at the local prosecutor’s office Monday.
The suspects, aboard three fishing vessels, were apprehended by Maritime operatives along the Aparri-Buguey waters on March 18. They were reportedly caught conducting buli-buli fishing, utilizing fine mesh nets and ‘active gears,’ which is in violation of RA 8550 or the Philippine Fishery Code. – Charlie Lagasca