Five boxes of ‘dynamited’ fish seized

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Negros Occidental and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) seized five boxes of alleged illegally caught fish from Cadiz City.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Negros Occidental head, said they conducted an operation at a fish landing area in Sibucao, Barangay Banago here yesterday, in response to a report of a concerned citizen from Cadiz City regarding the alleged trading of fish caught using “dynamite” fishing.

The team conducted fish examination and found out that the fishes were indeed caught using explosives or dynamite, Benjamin said.

Authorities arrested a 44-year-old man from Sagay City. He was brought to the BFAR provincial office and was fined P20,000, Benjamin said.

He allegedly violated Republic Act 8550 or the “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.”

Benjamin said that the violator alleged that he was just asked to transport and deliver the boxes of fish for distribution in the market here.

The confiscated boxes of fish were turned over to the Holy Family Homes, Inc., in Barangay Cabug here.