Illegally caught fish confiscated in Baguio market

SOME 70 kilos of dalagang bukid were confiscated after showing manifestations of being caught by means of explosives or dynamite fishing during the joint market inspection conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFARCAR) and the City Veterinary Office recently.

According to fish vendor Berto Quero, he bought and transported the fishes from Agoo, La Union to be sold at the Baguio City Public Market.

The fishes have noticeably loosening of scales especially at the mid-portion of the body. With this, an onthe-spot examination was conducted and further revealed internal organs were crushed and mixed with blood, with the air bladder being ruptured and filled with blood.

Blast or dynamite fishing is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection.

This causes destruction of fishery resources where fish and other aquatic products breed and grow, death or disability of adult and juvenile fishes and other living aquatic organism. It can likewise injure the person using this illegal method of fishing.

The vendor may be liable for violating section 26 of RA 10654 or An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and

Unregulated Fishing which states possessing, dealing in or disposing illegally caught or taken fish is punishable by law.

It further provides the discovery of any fish or species caught with the use of explosives or poisonous substances will constitute a prima facie presumption the possessor, seller, fish dealer, transporter, importer, or exporter has knowledge the fish or species was caught or taken in violation of the Code.

The offender may be punished with a fine of P50,000 to P200,000 or five times the value of fish or species, whichever is higher, and confiscation of the same, or criminal liability with an imprisonment of six months to two years.

The confiscated fish were brought at the BFAR-CAR Regional Office for further analysis and later turned-over to the the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and at the Silungan Center of the City’s Social Welfare Development Office.

This is in compliance to Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 206 that those fish confiscated and determined to be still fit for human consumption will be distributed to charitable or penal institution. BFAR-CAR Release