Illegal fishers apprehended in Quezon

PAGBILAO, Quezon (PIA)- Four commercial fishing vessels were recently apprehended during a joint seaborne operation of the Bureau of Fisher...

PAGBILAO, Quezon (PIA)- Four commercial fishing vessels were recently apprehended during a joint seaborne operation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 4A Quick Response Team (QRT), municipal police stations, Bantay Dagat personnel and Fisheries Technicians of Agdangan and Pagbilao in Quezon this February 2 in Pagbilao and Padre Burgos.

The vessels FB Marilou, FB Jonas, FB King Jerwin and FB John Calvin were caught fishing in the municipal waters violating Section 86 of RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as amended by RA 10654 itherwise known as the Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

Aside from the mentioned violation, FB Calvin also violated Section 113 of the Fisheries Code because of their unlicensed fish workers. Around 50 fisherfolk and crew members of the said vessels including three highest ranking officers were apprehended and turned over to municipal police of Agdangan and Pagbilao while the fishing boats were impounded.

The active campaign against illegal fishing is one of the major programs of Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol and Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona. (GG/ DVL, PIA4A with reports from BFAR 4A)