Two illegal fishers nabbed

CEBU, Philippines -  Two fishermen are temporarily detained at the San Nicolas Police Station after the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Task Force caught them fishing using fine mesh nets in violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Elizer Tayco, 33 and Roland Tacacao, 20 were apprehended at 8 a.m. off the South Road Properties. They, along with 10 other fishermen on board five other motorized boats, were spotted at Pier 5.

The Bantay Dagat Task Force headed by Cesar Enriquez conducted their patrol at 5 a.m. and caught in the act six pump boats using fine mesh nets to catch fish. The other five pump boats however have escaped.

Enriquez was with two policemen and four fish wardens during the operation.

Tayco and Tacacao are residents of Tangke, Talisay.

Enriquez said most of the violators being caught by their group are residents of Tangke, Talisay.

The use of fine mesh nets is prohibited under Section 89 of the fisheries code, which provides that it is unlawful to “engage in fishing using nets with mesh smaller than that which may be fixed by the Department.”

Fine mesh net is a net with mesh size of less than three centimeters.

The method allows small fish to be caught while damaging the corals.

Enriquez said that if they tolerate this kind of violation, small fish will not be given the chance to grow until there is no more fish to catch in the ocean.

Violations of Section 89 of the Philippine Fisheries Code is subject to a fine from P2,000 to P20,000 or an imprisonment of six months to two years. The imposition of both fines and imprisonment depends on the discretion of the court.

The pump boat used by Tayco and Tacacao is now under the custody of the Bantay Dagat Office.

The suspects will be charged before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.

Meanwhile, A non-government organization working in the coastal conservation and protection in the Municipality of San Remigio has warned that Capitol’s anti-illegal fishing campaign could be another “ningas cogon” government program.

NGO field worker Joel Erediano reported that this effort is not sustained and lack the regularity in their area.

Erediano informed Task Force coordinator Jose Ma. Gastardo that until this time, illegal and commercial fishers continue with their unscrupulous activity in destroying marine habitats and exploiting marine resources much to the frustration of fishermen and coastal communities.

“While we believe that you are very sincere in your quest to end these activities, people here are starting to believe that this could end up as another ningas cogon government program,” Erediano said.

Erediano appealed to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to help them fight back these all forms of destructive and illegal forms of fishing activity.

Gastardo assured Erediano that his concern will be raised in the meeting of the task force on Wednesday.

Erediano said that when the task force was launched in their area, their prayer was indeed answered to complement their efforts of ensuring the rational and sustainable development, management and conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in their municipality.

The municipal water has been under threats of illegal and commercial fishers such as compressor/hookah fishing, dynamite fishing and all other forms of illegal fishing practice that remain unabated.

Erediano said that the continuous intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in their municipal waters and along the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape are depriving the marginalized fishers in their proper share of the sea bounty. (FREEMAN)