Vessel intercepted for illegal fishing
BFAR confiscated 14 containers of sardines, mackerels and herrings; ship captain arrested
A COMMERCIAL fishing boat carrying illegally-caught fish from the Visayas Sea was intercepted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Fisheries Regulation Officer I Albert Simbajon Jr. said their seaborne patrol confiscated 14 containers of assorted fishes such as sardines, mackerels and herrings onboard fishing boat Tristian Mar last Dec. 14.
They also confiscated illegal fishing gear such as the long Danish seine nets locally known as hulbot-hulbot.
Simbajon said they arrested ship captain Manolito Mia and 11 crew members during their operation.
He, however, said that the crew members were eventually released since there is a law, which states that only the three highest ranking officers in the intercepted fishing boats will be held liable.
The vessel, which is owned by Morle Awit from Sagay City, is presently docked near the BFAR office in Bantayan Island.
The ship captain will only be released once he posts bail amounting to P32,000.
Simbajon said that Mia will be facing charges for violating the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3 signed by then agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala in 2013.
The FAO implemented a “closed season” for sardines, herrings and mackerels in the Visayan Sea from Nov. 15 of ever year until Feb. 15 the next year.
As of yesterday, Mia was still under the custody of BFAR. He underwent inquest proceedings last Dec 15.
As for the confiscated fishes, Simbajon said these were turned over to the local government unit, religious organizations and welfare offices.
The incident last Dec. 14 is the second arrest in four weeks made by Simbajon’s team.
Last Nov. 23, they intercepted two fishing boats in Mambakayao Island, one of the islets in Bantayan.
Vessels Rain 3 and Rain 4 were arrested for carrying 400 kilos and 600 kilos of fishes, respectively, that were illegally caught.
The vessels are owned by Antonio Dignadice from Victoria City.
The captains have been arrested but were released after posting a bail.
BFAR’s composite team has five seaborne patrols.
Each seaborne patrol is composed of a BFAR officer and members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard.