20 nabbed for illegal fishing

BY JEZZA NEPOMOCENO

ILOILO – Twenty men were recently arrested for illegal fishing in the waters off the northern coastal towns of Carles and Concepcion.

Two pump boats were also impounded by the Bantay Dagat, said Jude Sotomil, deputy provincial fish warden.

The suspects were charged with violating the Philippine Fisheries Code, Sotomil said.

The arrests were successfully effected even if the Bantay Dagat is ill-equipped. Presently, it has only one functioning patrol boat. Its two others are unserviceable.

From 2003 to 2009, Bantay Dagat confiscated 308 boats used in illegal fishing and arrested 1,103 local fishermen.

Sotomil said 464 illegal fishing cases were filed against the suspects.

Last week, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., addressing the problem on illegal fishing, ordered an inventory of the provincial Bantay Dagat pump boats.

The governor said that if upon evaluation there would be a need to purchase new pump boats for the Bantay Dagat, then he would consider it.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias confirmed that at present, the province’s Bantay Dagat pumpboats in Concepcion and Estancia town badly need repairs.

He said the provincial government is especially assisting the coastal towns of Carles, Concepcion and Batad where most complaints on illegal fishing have come from. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)