THREE officials of an unregistered motorboat from the town of Manapla in Negros Occidental have been charged by Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force for violation of fisheries law.
Task force team leader Police Officer (PO)3 Charlie Asturias filed a complaint for violation of 2013 Fisheries Administrative Order 246 against boat mechanic Gerlad Concha and captains Alexander Baterna and Anthony Miane in the Provincial Prosecutor's Office over the weekend.
The three, with crew members Ian Alingan, Mario Mangisil and Armin Ramplona, were caught using Danish seine or “hulbot-hulbot” in gathering fish 3.4 kilometers from the shoreline of Barangay Bagongon in Concepcion town on July 29.
“Only the highest officials were charged on Saturday. We did not include the owner of the boat because we could not confirm his identity. There were no supporting papers. The boat was unregistered,” said Asturias in an interview.
The task force recovered from their possession one set of Danish seine fishing net, two rolls of scaring line, tom weight, propeller, radder, and a container of diesel fuel. They also seized one box of assorted fish and their fishing boat and engine.
The relentless operation against illegal fishers was pursuant to the directive of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. that there should be no let-up in the campaign against all forms of illegal fishing.
To ensure the campaign’s effectiveness, Defensor increased its manpower and logistics by employing job hires and procuring additional two motorboats for the task force.
“We should not let our guard down. Illegal fishing must stop and we will not hesitate to run after erring fishermen and other personalities behind it,” he said.