Illegal fishers still abound in northern Iloilo

By Leny G. Gabo

Despite the governor's warning against the use of illegal fishing implements and the catching of “ balat ”, violators still abound in coastal towns of northern Iloilo

The province's task force on illegal fishing headed by Senior Insp. Leroy Rapiz recently arrested forty fishermen on board F/B Merlyn while engaging in the illegal activity off the seawaters of Sicogon and Gigantes Island .

The task force recovered from their possession illegal fishing gears like “ karas ”, fine mesh nets and trawl.

Provincial Fisheries Chief Fernando De Castro said the arrested persons violated the Fisheries Code of 1998 or RA 8550. De Castro identified the owner of the trawl as Apolinario Fernandez of Carles . The captain of said fishing boat is Romeo Gonzales of Bitu -on, Carles . It was learned that all of crew of the said fishing vessel come from Carles town.

The violators are now detained at the lock up cell of Carles PNP facing charges of RA 8550, with the fine ranging from P2 ,000 up to P20,000 or imprisonment of six months up to two years.

It was learned that the Fisheries Code defines the portion of sea within the 15-kilometer radius from the shoreline as “municipal waters” wherein the commercial fishing is banned or prohibited.