Dozen ‘hulbot’ fishers caught

BY CYRUS GARDE and MAE SINGUAY

BACOLOD City – Twelve men were arrested for illegal fishing in the seawaters of Barangay Gahit, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, police said.

The men were using Danish seines, or hulbot nets, when chanced upon by joint elements of Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company’s Task Force Lawod, E.B. Magalona police station and Provincial Environment Management Office around 8:15 a.m. on Thursday.

Hulbot fishing contributes to the destruction of marine habitats, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Task Force Lawod head Gary Amit said the fishermen violated Fisheries Administrative Order No. 246 which “bans the operation of Danish seines and modified Danish seines in Philippine waters.”

They also violated Republic Act 10654, or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, Amit added.

Among those who were arrested were Joery Arroyo, 49; Dante Sirad, 38; Dione Sirad, 51; Angeles Balana, 44; Ronel Tacio, 38; Romeo Arroyo, 38; Arnel Arriola, 38; Arnel Balana, 38; Sunny Arroyo, 39; Ricky Boy Guadalupe, 26; Teopido Panique, 44; and Ronel Guadalupe Jr., 22 – all residents of Barangay Gahit.

Recovered the fishermen were fish nets worth about P45,000 and 12 fishing boats valued at around P540,000, police said.

The men were detained at the E.B. Magalona municipal police station lockup facility./PN

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