Cadiz mayor orders probe on illegal fishing

THE interception of two truckloads of dynamited fish has alarmed Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante.

That’s why Escalante has ordered a deeper investigation into the use of dynamite fishing in the city’s seas.

Escalante said that the fish is supposed to be delivered to Mindanao as the buyers are from Dipolog and General Santos.

“The seas off our coast is calm despite the Habagat or southwest monsoon. This causes the fish to come near the coastline,” the mayor said.

He said he wants to know where the buyers bought the fish.

“We also want to know who are the financiers behind these fishermen who are involved in illegal fishing practices,” Escalante pointed out.

He said his administration is taking steps to address the persistent problem of dynamite fishing.

“They are just small fries. We will go after the financiers and who supplied them with the dynamite,” he said.

Personnel from the Cadiz City Police Station intercepted two trucks loaded with styro boxes of sardines locally known as ‘tuloy’ worth P75,000 at Brgy. Tinampaan, Cadiz City on Saturday.

Police Major Robert Mansueto, Cadiz City police chief said he has asked the assistance of personnel from the City Agriculturist Office to examine the fish which were validated as dynamites fish.

An inventory of the truck showed that the Titan Mazda truck with plate number 090105 carried 65 styro boxes of fish worth P45, 550 while the other truck with plate number 120110 carries 42 styro boxes worth P29, 400.*