THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Goard (PCG) and local police authorities recently apprehended 13 illegal fishing vessels in the waters of Masbate, Albay, Ragay Gulf and Mamburao. 

BFAR Director Asis G. Perez said of the 13 commercial fishing vessels apprehended, six were caught off the waters in Ragay Gulf, five in Albay and 1 each in Masbate and Mamburao. 

“The sad part of this illegal activity is that what they only caught is 20 percent of the fish in that area; the remaining 80 percent is wasted as it sinks underwater,” Perez said. 

All vessels violated Section 86 (fishing without license) and Section 104 (employing unlicensed crew) of the Fisheries Code of 1998, or Republic Act (RA) 8550. In addition, the fishing vessel caught in Mamburao also violated Section 88, or the use of explosives for fishing, while the one in Masbate violated Section 93, or fishing using super lights of RA 8550.

Perez said the crew and owners of all fishing vessels have already been jailed and the corresponding cases have been filed against 12 operators. Another case is being filed on another operator but the case is still being processed as of press time.

Under the law, the actual use of explosives for illegal fishing is punishable by imprisonment ranging from five years to 10 years and the forfeiture of the fishing vessel, fishing equipment and catch.

The use of superlights in municipal waters carries imprisonment from six months to two years or a fine of P5,000 per superlight or both at the discretion of the court. In addition, the superlight, fishing gears and the catch are also confiscated.

Unauthorized fishing or fishing without a permit or license in the Philippine waters is punishable by a fine equivalent to the value of the catch or P10,000 whichever is higher; imprisonment of six months; and confiscation of catch and fishing gears and automatic revocation of license.

The owner/operator of a commercial fishing vessel employing unlicensed fisherfolk or fishworker shall be fined P500 each for every month that the same has been employed and/or P1,000 for every month for each unlicensed crewmember who has been deployed.

“The government continues to intensify its efforts to go after the perpetrators of illegal fishing in the country. Illegal fishing continues to affect adversely our fisheries resources by killing even the smallest of all aquatic organisms and destroying its habitats,” Perez said.

BFAR is currently beefing up its Law Enforcement Quick Response Team in all of its 16 regional offices nationwide as well as in its head office in Manila in its current thrust to curb illegal fishing in the country.

Perez called on all stakeholders to be involved and to support the government’s efforts against illegal fishing by reporting to the nearest BFAR regional office in their area any forms of illegal fishing activities.