1.2T kilos of ‘blasted fish’ seized

Bantay Dagat intercepts vehicle carrying chopped blue marlins reportedly from Zamboanga

CCBDC intercepted at past 10 p.m. last Friday a vehicle loaded with boxes of fish that were about to be delivered to the Pasil Fish Market Authorities distributed seized fish to institutions, including Parian Drop-in Center and provincial jail

AT least 1,200 kilos of assorted fish caught through dynamite fishing were seized by operatives of the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission (CCBDC) late Friday night.

CCBDC intercepted at past 10 p.m. last Friday a vehicle loaded with boxes of fish that were about to be delivered in the Pasil Fish Market.

Eduardo Cabras, the new chief of CCBDC, said they received reports that the cargo came from Zamboanga City.

It was transported to Cebu City on board an unidentified fishing vessel docked at Pier 1.

Cabras said a variety of fishes was seized, including large blue marlins that were already chopped into pieces.

A fish examiner from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), who was with the team during the operation, confirmed that dynamite was used to catch the fish.

But CCBDC could not file charges because the owners are not yet identified.

Owner

Cabras said the driver of the vehicle did not know who owns his cargo.

“Igo ra kuno siya gipadrive ipahatod sa Pasil. Wala gyod siya kahibawo kuno kung kinsa ang tagiya (He didn’t know who owned the cargo). That’s why we release him. Di man sad ta kapugos kay di man iyaha ang karga nila,” Cabras told Sun. Star Cebu.

But in a text message obtained by Sun.Star Cebu from a fish trader who requested anonymity said not all of the fish were caught through dynamite.

The text message said that the Bantay Dagat team seized even the fish that were not caught through dynamite.

The sender also asked whether all seized fish are given to different institutions, adding that there are reports that the fish that are not caught by dynamite are sold.

Cabras said that un- der the rules of BFAR, all fishes in a box will be confiscated even if only one of them is blasted.

All seized fishes, Cabras said, were distribut- ed yesterday to different charity centers and institutions, like the Parian Drop In Center and Cebu City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan yesterday. RVC