42 illegal fishermen caught in Bantayan

A total of 42 fishermen on board separate commercial fishing boats were arrested after they illegally caught fish by using fine nets at the seawaters of Bantayan Island last Friday morning. Elements of Bantayan Police Station composed of PO2 Jesus Aguisanda and PO2 Samuel Aguipo with Noel Dibran, Marlon Marando and Ricardo de la Cruz of the Department of Agriculture in Bantayan town conducted a sea-born patrol within their area of responsibility that resulted to the apprehension of three commercial fishing boats engaged in illegal fishing. Roy Biandre of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental reportedly owns the three fishing boats.

The apprehension was conducted in three operations. The operatives started at past 11 a.m. when the operatives conducted patrol at the seawaters of barangay Botigues where commercial fishing boat marked FB Laura Rowella with 14 crewmembers were apprehended.

After several minutes, another commercial fishing boat FB Laura Bicor was apprehended at the seawaters of barangay Luyong-Baybay with 15 crews while the operatives apprehended the last commercial fishing boat owned by Biande at the seawaters of barangay Lipayran that carried 13 crewmembers.

All apprehended crewmembers of the three commercial fishing boats were brought to the Bantayan police station for proper disposition, but were released later after paying P500 each as fine. The fishing boats were also released after officials reportedly failed to locate a place to have the vessels docked. Ricardo de la Cruz, Bantayan Department of Agriculture representative, said that dynamite fishing in their area of responsibility is few but there are a lot of commercial fishing boats coming from the different places and or nearby towns using fine nets. The fishermen entered in the municipal waters of Bantayan illegally and that the use of fine nets is not allowed.

Bantayan clerk of court Edgar Villacruzes told The FREEMAN that the seized fish have been sold by the municipal treasury's office since the items were perishable goods. - Norvie S. Misa