Illegal fishing monitored in 82 WV coastal towns
The Regional Maritime Office 6 is closely monitoring illegal fishing activities in 82 coastal towns and cities in Western Visayas.
Supt. Jairus Juanito Gelvezon III, RMO6 deputy regional director, said the operations are in line with the directive of Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr., police regional director, to strengthen monitoring against illegal fishing in the region.
This year, RMO 6 has so far arrested 467 violators and impounded 85 fishing vessels regionwide.
But the present record is much lower compared to last year’s, Gelvezon said.
Most of those arrested violated the municipal ordinance that prohibits fishing within the 15-kilometer distance from the shoreline.
Pagdilao has also encouraged all town police offices in the region to conduct seaborne patrol in their municipal territorial waters.
In Iloilo, the Provincial Bantay Dagat is in-charge of the campaign.
Gelveson said Provincial Administrator Raul Banias has already coordinated with the RMO 6 regarding the rampant illegal fishing activities in northern Iloilo.
Only this month, the Bantay Dagat has arrested four fishing vessels in towns of Carles and Estancia.
Gelveson said most violators are not from Iloilo but from the neighboring provinces of Palawan and Negros.
Last year, the Iloilo Provincial Police arrested 993 fishermen and impounded 371 fishing boats from its 207 operations. Also, 45 cases were filed in court, mostly on the use of fishing gears prohibited under the Fisheries Code.*
