The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Fisheries Protection Law Enforcement Group (FPLEG)-Eastern Seaboard and the Naval Intelligence and Security Unit (NISU-32) of the Philippine Navy (PN) apprehended Friday, Aug. 19, two fishing vessels using the illegal Modified Danish Seine (MDS) or “buli-buli” method in a joint operation off Pagbilao, Quezon.
Danilo Larita Jr., fishery law enforcement officer of the BFAR Region 4-A, identified the owners of the two fishing boats as Ernie Salazar and Marlon Naval, both residents of Barangay Dalahican, Lucena City.
These two fishing boats were caught in the act in Tayabas Bay at around 7 a.m.
The apprehension was a result of information from residents near coastal areas in Lucena City and Pagbilao.
Larita said that using MDS is a clear violation of Section 97 in relation to Food and Agriculture Order (FAO) 246-1 and Sections 97 and 115 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8550 (The Fisheries Code of the Philippines) as amended by RA 10654 (An Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, amending RA 8550).
Fish and gear valued at P200,800 were confiscated from the apprehended fishing boats.
The fishing boats were taken to Barangay Campo in Padre Burgos, Quezon for proper custody, documentation, and investigation for the filing of the corresponding case, Larita said.