Friday 24 February 2012

BFAR seizes 21 fishing vessels, 75 cases filed

LEGAZPI CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office No. 5, headed by Director Dennis Del Socorro, has apprehended a total of 21 fishing vessels and filed 75 cases against operators for violation of fishery laws.

The apprehensions and filing of cases were based on BFAR’s accomplishment report for the period July 7, 2011 to Jan. 24, 2012, as prepared by Audie Gonzaga and Johnson de la Rosa, staff of the Fishery Regulatory Monitoring Division under FRMD chief Francisco Ombao.

A copy of the report was submitted to Albay Provincial Board Member Arnold Embestro, chairman of the Sangguniang Panglunsod’s committee on environment.

The report said eight fishing vessels were apprehended while in the act of illegal fishing along San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur while two trucks loaded with fish of doubtful origin were apprehended in Barangay Mabolo, Naga City.

Six vessels were apprehended while fishing illegally in Caima Bay, Ragay, Camarines Sur; 4 in Burias Pass, Oas, Albay; one in Brgy. Pagatpatan, Burias Pass; one in Bato, Camarines Sur; one in Burias Pass, Balatan Camarines Sur; and one in Matalangtalang, Aroroy, Masbate.

Jonalyn Barcellano of BFAR information office said that the 21 vessels and two trucks caught involved in illegal fishing were not actually impounded but their illegal catch and fishing paraphernalia were confiscated by the law enforcers.

She said that BFAR Regional Director Dennis Del Socorro has thanked the personnel and operatives of the PNP Maritime Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for their active support, cooperation and assistance in carrying out the campaign against illegal fishers through the Bicol waters.  – Bicol Mail

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