By Rowena Cruz Modified danish seine commercial fishing boat. (Photo from Danilo Larita Jr.) CALAUAG, Quezon - Due to the reporting of c...
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| Modified danish seine commercial fishing boat. (Photo from Danilo Larita Jr.) |
CALAUAG, Quezon - Due to the reporting of concerned citizens of the area who have long opposed the illegal assault, two (2) modified danish seine commercial fishing boats were recently caught in the waters of Lamon Bay off the coast of the town of Calauag, Quezon.
A Joint Seaborne operation was immediately launched by the Philippine Navy's Naval Force Southern Luzon, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Calauag Fishery Law Enforcement Team in response to the complaint about illegal fishing in the area.
According to Danilo Larita Jr., Fishery Regulations Officer 1 of BFAR 4A, at 5:00 a.m., their group observed two Modified Danish Seine fishing, which is strictly prohibited by law; one of the caught commercial fishing boats is light green and red in color and marked with the name FBCa RN, which was also caught last November 29, 2022, for the same violation; the owner's name is John Paul Norva. An unmarked or unnamed commercial fishing boat in green and white, owned by Mark Lester L. Norva, was also seized, both from Brgy. Baclaran, Calauag, Quezon.
The boats were found to have violated the Fisheries Code of the Philippines by using banned fishing gear and catching undersized fish.
Larita claimed the violation occurred in Lamon Bay, which is located at 14°0037 N and 122°1940 E in the municipal waters of Calauag, Quezon, and Brgy. Mulay. FAO No. 246-1 (Prohibition on the Use of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in Philippine Waters) and RA 8550 as amended by RA 10654 Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, also known as The Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998.
The commercial fishing boats and fishing paraphernalia are estimated to be worth three million pesos.
According to Larita, the owners and operators who were apprehended have been temporarily released from custody due to low tide and bad weather, pending the completion of paperwork and an in-depth investigation necessary to file a case against them.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has been intensifying its efforts to enforce the Fisheries Code and protect the country's marine resources. The seized boats will be subjected to further investigation and legal action will be taken against the violators.
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