(Image courtesy of PRO-13)
BUTUAN CITY – Authorities arrested at least 139 individuals during a series of anti-illegal fishing operations from Feb. 24 to 26 in Caraga Region, a police official said Tuesday.
In a report, Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, director of the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13), said PHP1 million worth of fishing paraphernalia, gear and equipment were confiscated by police personnel from the suspects engaged in illegal fishing.
“The PRO-13 will continue to enforce strict regulations against illegal fishing to protect marine life in the region,” Kraft said in a statement.
Police confiscated 245 illegal fishing items, including unregulated fishnets, fishing gears and trawlers, as well as 22 motorized and six non-motorized fishing boats.
All the arrested individuals were issued citation tickets for violating local fishing ordinances.
Of those arrested, 70 were from the province of Dinagat Islands; 24 from Agusan del Norte; 20 from Surigao del Sur; 14 from Agusan del Sur; and 11 from Surigao del Norte. (PNA)
