Four marginal fishermen were apprehended in Virac and Caramoran recently as the Catanduanes police implemented a revitalized campaign against illegal fishing in the island’s waters.
In the capital town, elements of the Virac Bantay Dagat and the Virac police station led by police chief PMaj. Kenneth Ding C. Gutierrez caught two fishermen, identified only as “Ger” and “Ras,” catching fish inside the fish sanctuary off barangay Batag.
The fishing banca of the two suspects from Belmonte, San Andres yielded 26.5 kilos of assorted fish as well as various fishing gear.
The Batag fish sanctuary was established by the municipal government several years ago to protect, preserve and increase fish population in the area, with an existing ordinance prohibiting fishing inside the sanctuary and penalizing violators with fines and imprisonment.
The two fishermen will be charged with violation of Section 101 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as amended by RA 10654.
In Caramoran, law enforcers collared two fishermen for engaging in illegal fishing within the territorial waters of the town last Aug. 23.
The suspects were caught in the act of using prohibited fishing paraphernalia to catch fish and were promptly arrested.
They will be charged with violation of Section 86 of RA 8550 for unauthorized fishing and Section 95 for the use of prohibited fishing gear in municipal waters.
The twin apprehensions are in consonance with the marching orders of Gov. Patrick Alain T. Azanza for the police to put a stop to all illegal activities, particularly the exploitation of marine resources.