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12 Viet fishermen nabbed for poaching off Batanes


At least 12 Vietnamese fishermen were arrested over the weekend after authorities caught them fishing off Batanes province last Saturday. Radio dzRH reported Monday that the 12 Vietnamese, who were not immediately named, were aboard a Taiwanese vessel when they were caught off Sabtang Island in Batanes Saturday afternoon. The local Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) office said the boat has been grounded, even as the fishermen face charges for poaching. Jovita Ayson, BFAR regional director for Cagayan Valley, said the 12 Vietnamese nationals failed to present any document that authorized them to fish in the area. Ayson said they have been stricter in monitoring fishing activity in the area after local poachers stepped up their activities in recent weeks. She said many poachers now use compressors to scare off fish laying eggs, and even destroyed corals in their "fishing grounds." Sabtang is a sixth-class town in Batanes, with a population of 1,678 people in 353 households. - GMANews.TV

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