Two fishermen from Bohol province were arrested after they were caught harvesting guso (seaweed) in a marine sanctuary in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City, last Tuesday.
Nelson Bacante, 37, and Sani Rakal, 19, both from Getafe, Bohol province, were arrested for violation of City Ordinance 312-A-2006 also known as the Fishing Permit Ordinance.
The ordinance carries a P4,300 fine for every violator.
The motorized banca of the two fishermen was seized as well as five sacks of guso, which weighed 50 kilos. Dried guso can be sold for P20 per kilo, said PO3 Jomar Ybañez of the Lapu-Lapu police’s Task Force Kalikasan.
The fishermen said they were not aware that they were harvesting guso within the Minantaw Reef Marine and Park Sanctuary.
Ybañez said Bacante and Rakal were with a group of fishermen who were warned by Bantay Dagat members and Lapu-Lapu police to stay away from the sanctuary.
While the other fishermen left, Bacante and Raka stayed behind and harvested guso, said police./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA