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SAMAL, Bataan: Bantay Dagat members on Saturday vowed to keep on
going after fishermen conducting illegal activities along the sea
waters of Samal as they impounded nine motorized bancas caught last
month.
Benjamin Bugay and Leopoldo Bugay, secretary and
chairman, respectively, of the Samal Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Management Council (Mfarmc), said as members of Bantay
Dagat, they have to protect the fishing grounds of small fishermen
in the town numbering more than a thousand.
Benjamin Bugay, who is also chairman of the
Alyansa ng Mangingisda sa Bataan in Samal, said fishing bancas
impounded were two from Masantol, Pampanga and five from Orani and
two from Hermosa, both towns in Bataan.
He said that 24 fishermen, six from Masantol,
three from Macabebe; both in Pampanga, and the rest from Bataan, on
board the nine motorized bancas were arrested in June and charged
for violation of Republic Act 8550 that prohibits commercial fishing
with the use of active gear (sudsod) and fine mesh nets within
the 15-kilometer distance from the shore line.
The arrested fishermen were out on bail,
awaiting trial at the regional trial court of Bataan in Balanga
City. The Mfarmc secretary said the arrest were coordinated with the
Samal municipal police station under Chief of Police Insp. Emelito
dela Cruz. The police chief headed the operation against
anti-illegal fishing.
Benjamin said that the fishermen from Masantol
were apprehended while fishing in the prohibited waters of Samal
with the use of sudsod. “Their huge fishing boats had two wooden
posts up front for raking the muddy portions of the water and
ruining the food source and breeding grounds of fish, and their
fishing nets would catch all kinds, big or small fish,” he
explained.
He said that they have to protect their fishing
grounds. “We want to revive the kapiz industry in our town, and
sudsud fishing will seriously impact on our chances of doing this,
as well as destroy the damong dagat that fish of all kinds feed
on,” continued Bugay.
Gov. Enrique Garcia and the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan even purchased a P17-million four-seater helicopter to
stop illegal fishing, as well as illegal logging in the province.
-- Ernie B. Esconde
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