Mayor’s fishing vessels caught in municipal waters

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 5 is investigating the alleged illegal fishing activities committed by three commercial fishing vessels supposedly owned by the mayor of San Francisco, Quezon.

BFAR officials said the three vessels were apprehended off Burias Pass in Masbate last Monday afternoon.  

In a phone interview, Diomedes Ballebar, a member of the joint BFAR and Philippine Coast Guard quick response team that apprehended the three fishing vessels, said these were spotted within municipal fishing waters where commercial vessels are prohibited under the law.

The vessels were also using a device called “superlight,” which is prohibited in municipal waters.

Superlight is a type of high-powered light using halogen or metal halide bulb that can attract fish.

Ballebar said only municipal or subsistence fishermen are allowed to fish within 15 kilometers from the shoreline.

Commercial fishing vessels with gross tonnage of 86.2 gross tons are not allowed within this distance so as not to compete with small fisherfolk.

Confiscated from the three vessels were 50,000 banyera (metal basin) of assorted fish, mostly galunggong.

Based on the certificates of registration and ownership of the vessels, Ballebar said these belong to a certain Joselito Alega. He, however, declined to confirm if the owner is indeed the mayor of San Francisco, Quezon.

Two of the vessels have been released while another, S/V Desly, is still docked in Pasacao Port in Camarines Sur pending the investigation.

BFAR is still determining what sanctions and penalties to be imposed on the owner of the three fishing vessels. – Czeriza Valencia, Michelle Zoleta