Illegal Fishing: Philippines CG Apprehends 5 Boats

A total of 74 crews including boat captains were apprehended by the joint personnel from Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) 3004 vessel manned by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 5, and Coast Guard Station (CGS) Masbate in coordination with Local Government Units onboard five (5) Danish Seine (Hulbot-Hulbot, Buli-Buli) fishing vessels at vicinity Balud, Jintotolo and Zapatos Islands along Sibuyan Sea in Masbate yesterday, May 12.

While conducting maritime patrol at the vicinity, personnel from MCS 3004 sighted said hulbot-hulbot vessels while illegally fishing using Danish Seine method on said islands along Sibuyan Sea.

Immediately, MCS 3004 apprehended the perpetrators and confiscated all illegal fishing equipment, scare lines, fish nets including their boat captains and crew. On the other hand, one of the fishing vessels likewise yielded one (1) Caliber 45 during the conduct of board and search procedure.

The “Danish Seine” method of fishing is strictly banned in the Philippine waters because it violates Section 92 of Republic Act 8550, also known as the Fisheries Code of the Philippines, which reiterates the prohibition of the use of any fishing gears that destroy and damage coral reefs, sea grass beds, and other fishery marine life habitats.

The apprehended vessels identified as FB YUMIE-2, FV ROSALINDA-2, FB YAN MAE, FB YANYAN and FB KIA JANE respectively were later towed to Masbate Port while the 74 crews were turned over to BFAR 5 office for filing of appropriate charges.