Vessel used in illegal fishing seized in Samar town

TACLOBAN CITY –– A commercial fishing vessel was seized by the personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas (BFAR-8) at 4:25 a.m. on Friday on the municipal waters of Barangay Rizal of Daram town, Samar.

A BFAR-8 report said the unnamed fishing vessel was used in conducting “hulbot-hulbot,” a fishing method that uses fine fish mesh nets, which is not allowed under the country’s fisheries law.

Violators of this law face a fine equivalent to five times the value of the fish caught and imprisonment of about 10 years for the boat owner.

The unidentified owner of the seized fishing boat, together with the engine man and three crew members, fled.

BFAR personnel, however, seized the boat, which was loaded with fishing gears estimated to be worth P500,000, and two tubs of fish, which were donated to the Samar Provincial Hospital. (Editor: Leti Boniol)