FPLEG 9 apprehends trawl fishers in EV hotspot areas

Three (3) commercial fishing vessels using trawl fishing method within Carigara Bay and Samar Sea were apprehended by the Fisheries Resource Protection Group (FRPG) 8 on August 18 and 19, 2020.

The said CFVs allegedly owned by residents of Catbalogan, Calbayog and Daram Samar were caught red handed operating within the municipal waters of Tarangnan, Catbalogan City and Talalora, Samar, respectively.

The apprehending team confiscated three (3) units of fishing nets, with an estimate value of P10,000-P25,000 each, from the alleged fishery law offenders. Withal, a total of 70 kilograms of fish catch amounting to P7,000 were seized from one of the fishing vessels.

The alleged perpetrators violated several sections of the amended Philippine Fisheries Code, such as Sections 86(b) (Unauthorized Fishing), 93 (Use of Fine Mesh Net), 95 (Use of Active Gear in Municipal Waters, Bays and Other Fishery Management Areas), 113 (Commercial Fishing Vessel Operators Employing Unlicensed Fisherfolk, Fishworker or Crew), 121, (Falsifying, Concealing or Tampering with Vessel Markings, Identity or Registration), FAO 237 (Regulations Requiring the Installment of Juvenile and Trashfish Excluder Device (JTED) in Trawls in Philippine Waters), and FAO 198-1 (Amended Rules and Regulations on Registration and Licensing of Commercial Fishing Vessels, Fishing Gears and Fishworkers) in relation to Section 128.

FRPG 8 is currently on the process of preparing the necessary documents for filing of appropriate charges. BFAR 8 encourages the public to report and provide reliable information of any witnessed Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) Activities within Eastern Visayas to 09564329955 and coordinate with their respective Local Government Units.