PHOTO from the Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines — Over P3 million worth of illegally caught fish was intercepted in Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday.
The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Law Enforcement 4-A seized fish tubs containing blasted fish and other marine species believed to be endangered last May 20.
The PCG said the fish tubs were on board a cargo vessel named Merchant Vessel Alejandra bound for Manila from Linapacan in Palawan.
Upon checking, the PCG and BFAR found that 79 of the 162 fish tubs in the vessel contained positive blasted fish with an estimated market value of P3.24 million.
PHOTO from the Philippine Coast Guard
A fish tub containing endangered species such as stingrays and sharks was also seized.
“The fish tubs with negative blasted fish were turned over to the concerned consignees while [those with] positive blasted fish were disposed to various charitable institutions,” PCG said in a statement.
The ten crew members of the cargo vessel were brought to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center for final physical and medical examination. (Editor: Eden Estopace)