Davao Sur town cops detain 10 illegal fishermen

MALALAG, Davao del Sur—At least 10 fishermen, who were arrested here for using fine mesh nets, had been charged with violation of the country’s fishery laws at the prosecutor’s office.

The arrests of the 10 men, from the villages of Baclayon and Upper Bagumbayan here, were made as the local police stepped up its campaign against illegal fishing to protect one of the province’s richest fishing grounds, according to Insp. Eric Requilman, the acting town police chief.

Requilman said the fishermen were caught in the act of using the banned fishing gear at  Malalag Bay, which has been identified as a marine sanctuary in the province, on Sept. 21.

Requilman said the fishermen had caught at least 30 kilograms of fish when they were apprehended.

The fishermen are now being held at the police detention cell. Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao