Dynamited fish seized in Navotas

Maritime police intercepted a delivery vehicle containing at least 40 tubs of dynamited fish in an operation last Thursday night in the coastal town of Navotas.

Inspector Joseph Sapigao said Carlos Bayani, a native of Barangay Wawa, Nasugbo, Batangas, driver of the delivery jeepney, and his two helpers were held for questioning and face possible charges.

Sapigao said that early Thursday night, the office of maritime chief Senior Superintendent Amador Pabustan received information from Padawan, Rosario, Batangas, that at least three vehicles from the area carrying illegally caught fish were on their way to the Malabon City fish market.

Pabustan formed a team that conducted surveillance operations on Road 10 and along C-3 Road in North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) to intercept the vehicles and their illegal shipment.

At around 10 p.m., maritime cops spotted one of the vehicles along Road 10 on NBBS resulting in the seizure of 40 tubs of dynamited dalagang bukid valued at around P100,000.

"Our informant gave us the exact time the captured vehicle left Rosario, Batangas. As for the other two, we had no information as to what time they left the area," Sapigao told The STAR.

He said the illegally caught fish came from Palawan and only passed through Batangas for distribution in different markets in Metro Manila, particularly in Malabon City.

The seized fish were supposed to be delivered to a certain Bitoy, who reportedly owns at least three fish stands at the Malabon fish market.

Ernesto Taduran, fish examiner of Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), confirmed that the confiscated fish were caught through dynamite fishing, Sapigao said.

The seized fish were distributed yesterday to different mercy institutions in Metro Manila, including government hospitals and jails.

Sapigao said that dynamite fishing in Manila Bay, especially in the territorial waters of Navotas, decreased drastically with the intensified drive of the local government against illegal fishing in cooperation with the maritime police, the Philippine Coast Guard and other concerned agencies.