Through a relentless pursuit of safeguarding our marine life and aquatic resources, police authorities of this province have apprehended four male suspects for breaking the municipal code in illegal fishing activity, organized from the anti-illegal fishing operation, yesterday.
Police Colonel Laudemer M Laude, Provincial Director, disclosed the identities of the arrested violators: a 40-year-old married individual from Purok 5, Brgy. Cawilan, Taganaan; a 35-year-old resident from Brgy. Poblacion 1, Burgos town; another 43-year-old suspect from Purok 1, Brgy. Del Carmen; and a 53-year-old individual with known residence at Purok 2, Brgy. Magsaysay, General Luna, Surigao del Norte.
During the provincewide operation, personnel from the unit Stations of Taganaan, San Benito, Burgos, and General Luna recently conducted the seaborn patrol operations at the declared marine protected areas of the said town, prompting their immediate arrest and held under police custody.
These suspects were found using banned fishing gear, including fine-meshed nets and other prohibited fishing equipment. Authorities carried out these operations as a response to the increasing reports of illegal fishing activity, which have been threatening the local marine ecosystem and the livelihood of the legal fisherfolks.
The arrested individuals were held responsible for violating the Municipal Ordinance No’s. 058-24 (An Ordinance Providing Fisheries Regulation in the Municipality of General Luna and its Adjacent Waters), 089-16, Series of 2016 (Comprehensive Municipal Ordinance Fishery Code of San Benito), 3 series of 2010 (An Ordinance Establishing Tagana-an Marine Protected Area/Fish Sanctuary at Barangay Opong, Tagana-an,), and Municipal Ordinance No. 1 series of 2009 (An Ordinance of Protection, Conservation and Management of Lakyajon Marine Sanctuary in the Municipal Waters of Burgos).
Legal repercussions shall be underway, meanwhile, confiscated evidence of illegal fishing was already reported and recorded. Items seized were as follows: two spear guns, two diving masks, three pairs of improvised flippers, one flashlight, one wooden canoe, a triple net approximately eight meters long, one unit motorboat propelled by 7 Horsepower Honda Engine, and around 12 kilograms of assorted fish with an estimated market price value of Php2,300.00.
“We are committed to protecting our marine resources, ensuring that fishing practices are sustainable, and we will continue to monitor our waters and enforce the law to preserve these vital resources for future generations. Illegal fishing activity across our province depletes fish stocks, causes irreversible damage, and makes our marine environment vulnerable. Therefore, we strongly condemn any of these dangerous attempts”- PD Laude said.
The arrested violator along with the confiscated illegal fishing evidence are now under the custody of apprehending Municipal Police Stations. Further, they need to settle their penalties with the Municipal Treasurer’s Office.
Authorities have reminded the public that illegal fishing activities carry severe penalties under the law, including hefty fines and imprisonment. They have also encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities in their communities to help protect the nation’s marine resources. (Mark James Lisondra)