ILOILO — Authorities struck twice within just 20 minutes in the waters of Concepcion town, seizing two fishing boats allegedly engaged in the prohibited “siklob” fishing method as Iloilo intensifies its crackdown on destructive and illegal fishing operations.
The joint maritime operation early Sunday morning, September 6, resulted in the apprehension of two boat operators and the confiscation of two vessels and prohibited fishing gear worth a combined P300,000.
“Siklob” is a large, conical falling net structured into three layers. It is heavily weighted at the bottom with lead sinkers and stones wrapped in netting to ensure rapid sinking to trap the targeted fish school. Unauthorized fine mesh nets, however, capture undersized juvenile fish, making it illegal.
The operation was conducted by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force (IPBDTF), Regional Intelligence Unit 6 (RIU 6), and 2nd Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (2IPMFC).
The first interception took place at around 4:30 a.m. Authorities caught a fishing boat allegedly conducting illegal fishing operations off Culebra Island in Barangay Taloto-an, Concepcion.
Barely 20 minutes later, the joint team intercepted another vessel allegedly using the same prohibited fishing method off nearby Bocot Island.
Authorities confiscated the two fishing boats valued at a combined P200,000 and “siklob” fishing paraphernalia worth approximately P100,000.
Also seized were around 10 kilograms of assorted fish with an estimated value of P5,000.
Rather than allow the confiscated catch to go to waste, authorities directed that the fish be donated to government hospitals and local charitable institutions.
Task force officials said the apprehended boat operators were informed of their constitutional rights in their local dialect.
The seized boats and fishing gear remained under the custody of the IPBDTF pending settlement of the required compromise fines with the concerned local government unit.
Coastal authorities stressed that sustained enforcement against prohibited fishing methods such as “siklob” is necessary to protect Iloilo’s marine ecosystems and preserve fishery resources for law-abiding fishermen and future generations./PN
