CAPIZ – A 38-year-old man was arrested for illegal fishing during an enforcement operation off the coast of Panay town in this province on Thursday, August 28.
The arrest followed reports that alias “Ricky”, a resident of the town’s Barangay Lat-asan, was using mini-trawl methods, which are banned under local ordinances to protect marine resources and promote sustainable fishing.
Authorities confiscated a pump boat worth P30,000, a diesel engine also valued at P30,000, fishing nets estimated at P70,000, and about 10 kilos of assorted fish worth P2,000.
Ricky will face charges for violating Municipal Ordinance No. 03-02, or the Fishery Code of 2003, which regulates fishing activities within the municipality. The seized items are now under the custody of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Panay for proper disposition.
Local officials stressed the importance of following fishing laws to safeguard the livelihood of legitimate fishermen and preserve marine biodiversity.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas continues to intensify its campaign against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing through its Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group, working closely with local government units and fisherfolk organizations./PN
