28 fishermen arrested

TWENTY-EIGHT fishermen, including the crew of a commercial fishing vessel, were arrested for illegal fishing off  Tañon Strait in San Remegio town, northern Cebu.

Police said members of the Bantay Dagat team spotted FB Rodjard’s crew engaged in purse seine fishing in   municipal waters  within  15 kilometers from the  shoreline about midnight yesterday.

The crew members were casting large fishnets in the sea when they were caught.

Commercial fishing is not allowed within  municipal waters, which are reserved for small fishermen.

The boat crew were escorted to  shore  and brought to the police station. The Bantay Dagat team seized the boat, fishing gears as well as 600 kilos of fish worth P24,000.

The 28 fishermen were released after the boat owner, Charito Soriba, paid a P50,000 fine for violating the municipal ordinance. /CORRESPONDENT JHUNNEX NAPALLACAN