A total of 57 fishermen have been apprehended by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for illegal fishing in the vicinity waters off Aborlan, Palawan.
According to PCG, the fishermen were aboard a commercial fishing boat and two small vessels when they were caught while allegedly using improvised air compressors during their fishing operations on Thursday, Nov. 4
Their activity violated Republic Act 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code which bans the use of active fishing gears, such as an air compressor, as doing so also catches smaller fish, the PCG noted.
An Enforcement Inspection Apprehension Report (EIAR) and a Certificate of Orderly Inspection (COI) were issued by the PCG to Gregorio Argulles Abong, the boat captain.
The apprehended fishermen were escorted to Barangay Apurawan in Aborlan town for the filing of charges.
Several fishing equipment were also seized from them as well as their freshly-caught fish that were turned over to the barangay officials for proper disposition.