12 Viet fishers held for poaching off Sulu

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said it would file criminal charges against 12 Vietnamese who were caught allegedly poaching endangered and threatened marine species off Sulu this week.

During an inventory last April 24, the PCG said the Vietnamese nationals were reportedly caught in possession of at least 50 dead marine turtles, or pawikan, and five bundles of prohibited black corals.

Also reportedly found onboard the Vietnamese fishermen’s vessel were high-value reef fish, shellfish and other invertebrates, including mameng or Napoleon wrasse.

The PCG is set to charge the 12 Vietnamese with violation of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, before the regional trial court in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

For such violation, the fishermen face a fine of $100,000 and jail term of 12 to 25 years. 

The fishermen’s Malaysian-flagged fishing vessel was intercepted 23 nautical miles off Pangutaran town in Sulu.