‘Blasted’ fish worth P301T seized

CEBU, Philippines – Around 2,010 kilos of dynamited fishes valued at P301,500 were confiscated by the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Task Force at Pasil Fish Port yesterday.

Of the total kilos of "blasted" fishes, 1,860 kilos were mackerel (anduhaw) and the remaining 150 kilos were sardines (tuloy).

Bantay Dagat Commission (BDC) Executive Director Michael Guerra said the confiscated boxes of fishes reportedly came from Zamboanga City and were registered under the name of Haji Kagal.

An officer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) inspected the boxes and discovered that the fishes had ruptured internal organs and clotted blood, a sign of being caught through dynamite fishing.

With this, the Cebu City Legal Office is set to file a case against Kagal before the City Prosecutor's Office. The legal office is now drafting the complaint.

Under Republic Act 10654, which amends the Fisheries Code with higher penalties, dynamite fishing is punished with six years imprisonment.

Prior to the operation, Guerra said the Bantay Dagat Task Force conducted surveillance at the port in Barangay Pasil few weeks ago to validate reports of illegal entry of blasted fishes.

He said the vendors are aware of the law prohibiting the selling of dynamited fish, adding that his office has been conducting education drive on fishery-related laws.

"They (vendors) know that it's illegal," he said.

Guerra said the confiscated fishes were edible and still fit for human consumption. They were distributed to charitable institutions like Operation Second Chance and Parian Drop-in Center.

Registration

Meanwhile, the BDC said the registration of fishing vessels is set in the next few days. The commission, however, is still finalizing the registration dates.

To avoid penalties, the fisherfolk and owners of motor bancas and commercial fishing vessels in the city are advised to register their vessels at the BDC office at the South Road Properties.

This is pursuant to the City Ordinance "Adopting the guidelines in the registration and licensing of fisherfolks, fishing vessels and fishing gears." It was enacted on January 15 last year. —/KBQ (FREEMAN)