ILLEGAL FISHING. One of the two apprehended fishing vessels apprehended within the Samar Sea. Authorities seized modified Danish seine, an illegal fishing gear locally termed as hulbot-hulbot. (Photo courtesy of BFAR Region 8)
TACLOBAN CITY – Two commercial fishing vessels employing destructive fishing methods in Samar Sea were apprehended in a joint seaborne operation on Thursday.
A team from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group (FPLEG) and Philippine Coast Guard seized modified Danish seine, an illegal fishing gear locally termed as "hulbot-hulbot".
The gear consists of a conical net with a pair of wings, the ends of which are connected to a rope embedded with buri, plastic strips, sinkers, or any similar materials to serve as scaring/herding device as hauling ropes passing through a ring permanently attached to a tom weight and hauled through a mechanical winch or by manpower.
“The use of 'hulbot-hulbot' has been banned in the Philippines because of its destructive effect on marine habitats. Its tom weights and heavily weighted scorelines contribute to the destruction of marine habitats as well as fishery resources, destroying coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other fishery marine life habitats, which take many years to recuperate,” said BFAR Eastern Visayas regional director Hannibal Chavez, in a phone interview Friday.
The two vessels and seized illegal fishing gear are impounded at the FPLEG substation in Carigara, Leyte for “proper disposition and custodial safekeeping.”
Authorities apprehended one of the vessel crew operating in Tarangnan town. He was released after an investigation.
The other crew member operating the vessel caught in Daram Island disembarked and abandoned the boat. BFAR asked the vessel owner to surrender to FPLEG stations.
If proven guilty, offenders may face a penalty as high as PHP2 million for violating Fisheries Administrative Order 246-1 (Banning of Operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in Philippine Waters) and other sections of the amended Fisheries Code of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the owner of the abandoned CFV will be facing an additional administrative fine ranging from PHP1 million to PHP2 million for violating Section 115 (Obstruction to Fishery Law Enforcement Officer).
To date, FPLEG is preparing the necessary documents for filing appropriate charges against the alleged transgressors. The BFAR regional office will also deploy additional patrol boat in Samar Sea to deter illegal fishing activities. (PNA)
