ILOILO — The Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force has tightened its crackdown on illegal fishing in northern Iloilo, arresting two fishermen caught using dynamite in the biodiverse waters off Carles — just weeks after six others from the same barangay were nabbed for the same destructive practice.
The suspects, both residents of Sitio Naborot in Barangay Buenavista, were intercepted aboard the fishing vessel F/B JED BERT.
Authorities seized the boat, its dynamite fishing gear, and 10 kilograms of assorted fish valued at P2,500. The fish, believed to have been caught through explosives, underscored the destructive toll of the operation.
The fishermen now face charges for violating Section 92 of the Philippine Fisheries Code, which prohibits the use of explosives in fishing.
They were turned over to the Carles Municipal Police Station for legal processing, while all confiscated items were submitted to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for examination.
Bantay Dagat officials stressed that dynamite and compressor fishing remain among the gravest threats to marine ecosystems, devastating coral reefs and fish populations.
“These operations are meant to protect marine resources and the livelihood of law-abiding fisherfolk,” a team member said.
Just this Aug. 4, six fishermen from the same barangay were apprehended in a joint seaborne operation by Bantay Dagat and Carles police, which recovered air compressors, fabricated clippers, diving goggles, and improvised scope nets commonly used in dynamite and compressor fishing.
Authorities said the consecutive arrests highlight the persistence of illegal fishing operations in Carles, an area known for its rich marine biodiversity, and reaffirm their commitment to stamping out destructive practices that jeopardize both the environment and the livelihood of coastal communities./PN
