An abandoned small Commercial Fishing Vessel (CFV) with a modified Danish Seine (hulbot-hulbot) gear onboard was towed from Brgy. Bagacay, Daram, Samar to the BFAR Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Center in Diit, Tacloban city by the Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group (FPLEG) 8, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Carigara Substation and DA-BFAR MCS 1101, on August 4, 2021.

After the initial investigation, apprehending officers found out that the alleged owner of the CFV is a resident of Brgy. Bagacay, Daram, Samar. With the presence of the local officials from the said barangay, photo documentation and processing of evidence were conducted against the alleged owner who violated the Fisheries Administrative Order(FAO)246-1.

The said FAO includes a provision that declares the mere possession of Danish seine or modified Danish seine as a prima facie evidence for violation of FAO 246. If proven guilty, the owner will face a penalty of an administrative fine equivalent to five (5) times the value of the fish caught or Php2M, and imprisonment of two (2) to 10 years.

“We know who you are, and we will make sure that you will be accountable of your illegal activity. We will ensure to put the maximum application of the law and the culpable maximum penalty,” warned by the BFAR 8 Regional Director Dr. Juan D. Albaladejo. The alleged offender has repeatedly violated the same FAO and usually instructs his crew to abandon their CFVs once seen by fishery law enforcers, leaving the burden of having his vessels towed from shallow waters to the impounding facility. “We will make this happen soon and not just later. We know that you still have active illegal CFVs and we will make a point to be unrelentless in pursuing you,” he firmly added.

The apprehending team is currently on the process of preparing the necessary documents for filing of appropriate charges.

Reports sent by concerned citizens to the FPLEG 8 hotline regarding the hulbot-hulbot operation within Tarangnan Samar and Sierra Island in Catbalogan, Samar led to the apprehension of the said CFV. Thus, 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.