P180T worth of blasted fish seized in Consolacion

At least 80 boxes of blasted fish worth about P120,000 were seized yesterday in Consolacion town, northern Cebu.

The boxes of tuloy fish were loaded in three trucks that were intercepted by Team Eskina of the Cebu Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force.

Upon examination by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas, it was found out that the fish were caught using dynamite fishing.

Joeffrey Merencillo, the task force coordinator, told reporters they received a tip about a delivery on its way to Pasil Fish Market in Cebu City.

The truck came from Medellin town, north Cebu.

One of the drivers, Seleno Salinas, 47, said they didn’t know who owns the cargo and that they were just asked to transport it.

Military and policemen escorted the confiscated fish from Consolacion to the Capitol, where Cebu Gov. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia lauded the task force for its successful operation.

“There will be no let up. We will continue to aggressively pursue this drive against illegal fishing,” said Garcia.

Twenty of the 80 boxes of fish were immediately donated to fire victims in barangay Carreta, Cebu City.

The rest will be distributed to an orphanage in Minglanilla, the Cebu provincial jail, Cebu City jail and center for children in conflict with the law in Danao City.