BACOLOD City – Authorities seized more than P195,000 worth of illegal fishing equipment, a fishing boat, and assorted fish, while arresting six fishermen in separate anti-illegal fishing operations in the coastal waters of Binalbagan and Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on July 16.
The combined operations resulted in the confiscation of items valued at P195,340 as law enforcement agencies intensified efforts against illegal fishing practices in the province.
In Binalbagan, four boat captains were apprehended during a joint seaborne patrol conducted by the Bantay Dagat Philippine National Police Commissioned Officers (PNCO) and the Bantay Dagat Task Force at about 3:45 a.m. in the coastal waters of Barangay Enclaro.
The suspects, identified only by their aliases “Joey,” “Rogelio,” “Norman,” and “Aljun,” are residents of Binalbagan and Himamaylan City.
Police said the four were arrested for allegedly violating Municipal Ordinance No. 12-02, Series of 2012, which prohibits illegal fishing methods within the municipality’s territorial waters.
Confiscated during the operation were four trawling nets valued at about P40,000 and eight trawling boards worth another P40,000, for a total estimated value of P80,000.
Under the ordinance, each violator faces a fine of P2,500. Authorities said the fishermen were advised to settle the penalties, while the confiscated equipment remains in the custody of the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station pending proper disposition.
In a separate operation at around 3:15 a.m., two fishermen from Escalante City were arrested during a joint seaborne patrol conducted by personnel of the Sagay Component City Police Station and the Sagay Bantay Dagat Task Force in the Matabas area of the Sagay Marine Reserve.
The suspects, identified only by their aliases “Nonoy,” the boat captain, and “Rony,” a crew member, were allegedly caught engaging in the illegal fishing method locally known as “pamo.”
Authorities recovered a fishing boat powered by twin engines valued at P55,000, a fishing net worth P60,000, and approximately two kilograms of assorted fish valued at P340.
The total value of the items seized in Sagay City was estimated at P115,340.
The apprehended fishermen are expected to face charges for violating fisheries and local environmental regulations as authorities continue to intensify patrols to protect the province’s marine resources and prevent destructive fishing practices./PN
