ILOILO – Following a directive from Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to protect, rehabilitate, and conserve the province’s coastal marine resources while eliminating illegal fishing activities, 10 fishermen were apprehended by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force (IPBDTF) for dynamite fishing.
The arrest took place in the waters of Sitio Baliguian, Mangalabang, Concepcion, Iloilo on April 1.
Dynamite fishing, a destructive method that uses explosives to kill large numbers of fish, has been identified as a leading cause of coral reef degradation and the destruction of coastal resources.
According to Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who oversees the taskforce operations, of the 10 fishermen arrested, nine were residents of Barangay Batuanan, Carles town while one was from Barangay Balat-an, Mambusao, Capiz.
They were taken into custody for violating Section 92 of Republic Act 8550, also known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by Republic Act 10645.
Banias said, “The taskforce will file a complaint at the Hall of Justice. The IPBDTF will continue to monitor our waters to protect small fishermen and carry out Governor Toto’s directive to protect, rehabilitate, and conserve our coastal marine resources while eliminating illegal fishing.”
Meanwhile, the fishing boats and equipment used in the illegal activity are now under the custody of the taskforce.
Also, a total of 20 kilos of assorted fish, valued at P3,600, were recovered and will be submitted to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for scientific examination.
Banias commended the taskforce for their latest accomplishment. Last year, the IPBDTF had successfully apprehended several illegal fishing vessels, including Danish seine or hulbot-hulbot boats, in municipal waters across Northern Iloilo, such as Concepcion, Carles, and Estancia.
The Danish seine fishing method violates Section 246-1 of the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) in relation to Republic Act 10654, aimed at preventing, deterring, and eliminating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Danish seine fishing is destructive and an unsustainable fishing method. It uses a fine net that is dragged along the seafloor, catching everything in its path, including juvenile fish, and marine habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds. This results in significant damage to the marine environment.
The technique often leads to high bycatch, meaning it unintentionally captures marine species that are not targeted by the fishermen. This includes endangered species, which can negatively affect biodiversity and the balance of the ecosystem.
Because of its high efficiency, Danish seine fishing often catches large quantities of fish, including those that are not fully mature. This can lead to overfishing, depleting fish stocks and threatening the sustainability of local fisheries./PN
