ILOILO — Intensifying the crackdown on illegal fishing, Iloilo Provincial Government operatives arrested a fisherman for using the banned round haul seine (“sensuro”) during a joint seaborne patrol in the municipal waters of Ajuy.
The suspect, a resident of Barangay Bato Biasong, Ajuy, was apprehended on Monday night, January 19, near Calabasa Island in Barangay Nasidman while operating a fishing vessel engaged in the prohibited method, authorities said.
Round haul seine fishing is banned under Section 86 of Republic Act 10654, or the amended Philippine Fisheries Code, for its destructive impact on marine ecosystems and fish stocks.
The operation was led by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force, with support from the Regional Intelligence Unit 6, as part of the province’s sustained campaign to protect marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of law-abiding fisherfolk.
Authorities confiscated the fishing boat, the fishing gear used in the activity, and a tub of anchovies (gurayan) valued at P500.
The suspect and seized items were brought to the Bantay Dagat Task Force headquarters for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.
Provincial officials reiterated their commitment to stricter patrols and enforcement actions, urging communities to report suspicious fishing activities to help preserve Iloilo’s marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable fisheries for future generations./PN
