BACOLOD City — Eight individuals were apprehended for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing, while fishing equipment, boats and fish worth an estimated P439,350 were seized inside the Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
The suspects were arrested during a joint seaborne patrol conducted by personnel of the Sagay City Police Station (CPS) and the Sagay Bantay Dagat Task Force on August 12. Authorities said they were caught in the act of using an illegal fishing method locally known as pamo.
The suspects were identified only by their aliases “Jun Jun,” 45, boat captain; “Bebeng,” 55, crew member; “Danny,” 55, crew member; “Gabriel,” 43, boat captain; “Kano,” 66, crew member; “Toto,” 33, boat captain; “Dodong,” 20, crew member; and “Tata,” 42, crew member.
All eight are residents of Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
During the first apprehension at around 7 a.m., authorities seized a fishing boat powered by two engines valued at approximately P78,000, 15 kilograms of assorted fish worth P3,000, a fishing net valued at P40,000, and a styrofoam box worth about P350. The total value of the seized items was estimated at P121,350.
In the second apprehension at around 7:55 a.m., authorities recovered a fishing boat valued at approximately P50,000, 10 kilograms of fish worth P3,000, a fishing net valued at P70,000, and a styrofoam box worth about P250, for a total estimated value of P123,250.
At around 9:30 a.m., authorities apprehended the third group and seized a fishing boat powered by two 12-horsepower engines valued at approximately P90,000, seven kilograms of bulaw worth P1,400, a fishing net valued at P103,000, and a styrofoam box worth P350. The total value of the seized items was estimated at P194,750.
The arrested individuals and confiscated items were turned over to the Sagay Marine Reserve/Protected Area Management Board for proper disposition, while the suspects remained under the custody of the Sagay CPS.
Authorities said they would continue enforcing fishing regulations within the protected area as part of efforts to protect and preserve the marine resources of the Sagay Marine Reserve./PN
