Operatives of Bantay Dagat of Roxas town has caught 10 fishermen engaged in alleged illegal fishing activities within the municipal waters of Barangay 4 Poblacion past Tuesday midnight or early dawn of Wednesday July 30.
Edgar Agarap, head of Bantay Dagat said that six fishermen caught using compressor in fishing, while nearby another four fishermen caught using trawl in fishing.
These fishermen were on board in four separate banca.
Compressor fishing is banned due to its detrimental impact on both marine ecosystem and the health of the fishermen. The use of compressor in artisinal dive fishing might cause decompression sickness and other dive related injuries. Trawling on the other hand, specially bottom trawling and is restricted due to its negative impacts on marine ecosystem and fisheries.
Agarap said that confiscated from the suspects were compressor engine, hose, three trawl fishing nets and other fishing paraphernalia.
“Kaugnay nito sa ngayon ay nahaharap ang mga magingisda sa paglabag sa mga municipal ordinances o ordinansa ng bayan,” Agarap said.
He is referring to Municipal Ordinance No. 763 – series of 2020 specially Section 104 that prohibits the use of Compresor and Municipal Ordinance No. 763 series of 2020 in Section 84 that prohibits unauthorized fishing trawl.