Illegal fishing kills one in Toledo

A 19-year-old man died while engaged in illegal electrofishing in sitio Anhislag, Canlumampao, a mountainous barangay in Toledo City last Sunday morning.

Jovel Alcontin Arzadon, a resident of Sambag, barangay Magdugo, Toledo City was electrocuted while setting up the 20-meter long electrical wire used for fishing in the river.

Police said that Arzadon was with his uncle Crisanto Alcontin, 37 when the incident happened. They were setting up the electrical wire from the river up to Alcontin’s house.

This is the usual practice the family uses where they electrocute fishes in the river every time they go fishing.

Police said that Alcontin was at his house setting up the wire when he heard Arzadon shouting in Cebuano, “Ready na diri. I-plug na!” which prompted the uncle to turn on the electricity.

Arzadon who was at the river was tasked to set up the electrical wire into the waters.

Alcontin was shocked when he found his nephew on the ground seemingly electrocuted with the other end of the wire in his fist.

Police said that Alcontin tried to save his nephew but he was also electrocuted.

Arzadon was brought to a nearby hospital where he died while Alcontin is still in the custody of Balamban Police Station for investigation.

Electrofishing is prohibited by the Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act 8550).

It is punishable by imprisonment ranging from five years to 10 years. Mere possession of electrofishing devices is punishable by imprisonment of six months to two years. Selling electrocuted fishes is punishable by imprisonment of six months to two years.

RA 8550 defines electrofishing as the use of electricity generated by batteries, electric generators and other sources of electric power to kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious fishery species, whether or not the same are subsequently recovered.