Capitol task force nets ‘blasted’ fish

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force has scored again in its campaign after it apprehended Wednesday evening a truck loaded with 480 kilos of “dynamited” fish in Liloan town.

Five flat sharks were also seized during the operation.

The task force was conducting market denial activities when it chanced upon a Mitsubishi truck (temporary plate 122609) in Barangay Cotcot, Liloan with five persons onboard.

CPAIFTF Coordinator Czareem Estella said they found a total of 38 boxes of assorted fish, six of which were found to be containing fish caught through dynamite fishing.

A Capitol fish examiner was with the team during the operation.

 The fish came from Masbate province and were to be transported to Pasil in Cebu City when intercepted.

Estella said the seized fish, which was worth P51, 240, were turned over to charitable institutions in Cebu City for consumption while the 30 boxes of fish were released to their respective owners.

The CPAIFTF will be filing charges against the five persons in the truck for violating a local ordinance and the amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. The truck, which was registered to a certain Rosendo and Elena Caliza of Bogo City, was impounded at the Capitol compound.

The fisheries law prohibits shipping, commercially transporting, offering for sale, selling, importing, exporting, or having custody, control, or possession of illegally caught fish.

It also punishes violators with an administrative fine of P50,000 to P200,000 or five times the value of the fish or species caught, whichever is higher. Conviction means six months to two years imprisonment; fine of eight times the value of the species or from P100, 000 to P500,000, whichever is higher; and confiscation of the fish or fishery products; and suspension or revocation of registration or license.  (FREEMAN)