Fisheries Bureau: 13 'illegal' fishing vessels apprehended

The crew and owners of 13 commercial fishing vessels are now spending time in jail after authorities apprehended them off the waters of Masbate, Albay, Ragay Gulf, and Mamburao, said Fisheries Bureau director Asis Perez. “Corresponding cases have been filed," added Perez, recounting the joint operations carried out by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police. Of the 13 commercial fishing vessels, officials caught six off the waters of Ragay Gulf, five in Albay, and one each in Masbate and Mamburao. The vessels allegedly violated the Fisheries Code of 1998, or Republic Act No. 8550, after being caught fishing without licenses and employing unlicensed crews. The vessel caught in Mamburao also allegedly violated Section 88 of the law, which prohibits dynamite fishing, while the one caught in Masbate allegedly violated Section 93 which prohibits fishing using superlights. Penalties The Fisheries Code penalizes the use of explosives for illegal fishing with imprisonment ranging from five to 10 years and the forfeiture of the fishing vessel, fishing equipment, and catch. For fishers that use superlights in municipal waters, the law imposes penalties of six months to two years in prison or a fine of P5,000 per superlight, or both at the court’s discretion. The government will also confiscate the superlight, fishing gears, and catch. Meanwhile, fishing without a permit in Philippine waters merits a fine equivalent to the value of the catch, or P10,000, whichever is higher; six months in prison; confiscation of the fishing gears and catch; and automatic revocation of license. “The sad part of this illegal activity like the usage of explosives is that what they only caught is 20 percent of the fish in that area. The remaining 80 percent are wasted as it sinks underwater," Perez said. In its thrust to curb illegal fishing in the Philippines, the BFAR said it is now beefing up its Law Enforcement Quick Response Team in all its offices. — PE/VS, GMA News