ILOILO — Authorities apprehended five fishing boats from Negros Occidental allegedly engaged in prohibited trawl fishing off the waters of Concepcion, Iloilo on Saturday, July 5.
The coordinated operation was carried out at Sitio Baligiuan, Barangay Malangabang by personnel of the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force, the Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Police Regional Office’s Regional Intelligence Unit.
Five boat captains, all residents of Barangay VI-A, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, were arrested.
The suspects were informed of their constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine before being placed under the custody of the Concepcion Municipal Police Station.
Authorities also confiscated the five fishing vessels along with their fishing paraphernalia.
The boats were turned over to the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force for proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges.
Trawling, a prohibited fishing method, involves dragging massive fishing nets along the seabed, destroying marine habitats and indiscriminately catching marine species, making it one of the most destructive forms of fishing.
The operation forms part of the continuing enforcement campaign against illegal fishing activities aimed at protecting Iloilo’s coastal and marine resources./PN
