ILOILO — Two suspected dynamite fishers from Masbate City were arrested by the Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force during an anti-illegal fishing operation in the municipal waters of Carles, Iloilo.
The suspects were Jelord Bacolod and Regie Espinosa. Authorities caught them onboard a fishing boat in the Visayan Sea on Sunday, May 10.
The men are currently under the custody of the Carles Municipal Police Station and were informed of their rights under the Miranda Doctrine and the Anti-Torture Law.
Authorities said the seized fishing boat, classified as a municipal fishing vessel, along with its fishing paraphernalia, was estimated to be worth P100,000.
Recovered from the operation was one tub of fish Lethrinus harak, locally known as “Kilawan,” with an estimated value of P15,000.
The Iloilo provincial government said it will continue intensifying operations against illegal fishing activities as part of efforts to protect the Visayan Sea and preserve marine resources for coastal communities.
Dynamite fishing, considered one of the most destructive forms of illegal fishing, uses explosives to kill or stun fish but also destroys coral reefs and marine habitats, threatening long-term fish stocks and biodiversity./PN