2 fishing boats, 11 fishermen apprehended for illegal fishing

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - Government troops intercepted and apprehended  two fishing boats with 11 crew members for illegal fishing  Monday in the waters off Zamboanga Sibugay, a police officer said.

Police Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the joint elements of the 44th Infantry Battalion and Special Forces tasked to conduct environmental security, launched the operation after reports of illegal fishing operation at the sea off Barangay Vio-us, Vincenso Sagun town.

The operating team on board their speedboats intercepted and caught the two fishing boats about 2:50p.m Monday on the act of poaching  by utilizing trawls or locally known as "hulbot-hulbot".

He said the type or method of fishing is banned as it was described by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)  as destructive to the fish habitats and coral reefs.

Huesca said the fishing boats manned by 11 crew members were owned by a certain Marcelino Ataga. Ataga and the crew members are all residents of Igat Island off Margosatubig town.

The troops recovered on board the fishing boats assorted fishers and the trawl nets and gears.

The 11 crewmen were brought to the Vincenso Sagun Municipal Police Station while the two fishing boats were towed to the shores near the camp of the 44th IB in Barangay Lumbal for proper disposition.

Huesca said the local government of Vincenso Sagun imposed the fine of P20,000 against the owner and the 11 crew members for illegal fishing.