FUENTES, ANGELICA P.

BSCRIMINOLOGY 3-B

Cybercrime

ILLEGAL FISHING. Police arrests seven

fishermen (in photo) for alleged illegal fishing
activity in Sual town in Pangasinan on
Saturday (June 5, 2021). They were caught
fishing using prohibited nets and equipment
along the territorial waters of Barangay
Baybay Norte. (Photo courtesy Alexander
James Navarro of Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan)

SUAL, Pangasinan – The local government unit (LGU) in this town is urging all fisherfolk here
to avail of various programs that benefit them and participate in dialogues to address issues after
seven fishermen allegedly involved in illegal fishing were arrested on Saturday.“We encourage
them to be with us because we’re doing this for their welfare and to protect the environment. We
at the LGU give assistance, such as providing them with fishnets, among others, for their
livelihood,” municipal legal officer lawyer Mageryl Shay de Guzman said in an interview.

De Guzman said law enforcers are now preparing to file appropriate charges against the said
fishermen.“These fishermen were reported on Saturday conducting illegal fishing activities using
fine mesh nets and active gears to catch fish within the territorial waters of Sual by their fellow
fishermen,” she said. De Guzman said these fishermen violated the provisions under the
Fisheries Code of the Philippines, as well as their existing municipal ordinance on responsible
fishing. “If found guilty, offenders will be meted a fine of PHP20,000 up to PHP100,000 for the
use of fine mesh net while the use of active and destructive gears can be fined from PHP100,000
up and with the corresponding imprisonment,” she added. De Guzman said the penalty for a
violation under the municipal ordinance is only at PHP2,500. In a radio interview, Sual
municipal police chief Capt. Roger Calderon said they received a report about the alleged illegal
fishing activities of some local fishermen within their municipal waters.Based on the police spot
report, suspects aboard the first boat were identified as Luisito Castillo, 56; Vito Castillo, 26; and
Mark Jevin Mendoza, 26. Aboard the second boat were Jovel Agang, 35; Joel Cabillan, 51;
Marcelino Gulani, 57; and Jerome Gomias, 37, all residents of this town. Apprehended
individuals caught an accumulated 10 kilograms of assorted fish with an estimated value of
PHP700. Suspects and confiscated items are now under the custody of the municipal police
station for proper disposition. Agang, one of the fishermen, admitted they knew that what they
were doing was illegal.“Mga apat na buwan pa lang kami na ganito (illegal fishing). Dahil sa
kakaunting huli, napilitan kaming gawin ito. (We were doing this for only about four months
because of scant catch,” he said in a separate interview. (PNA).

Illegal fishing is a common practice among Filipino fishermen, particularly in provincial areas.
Under the Philippines’ law, fishing without authorization and causing damage to the marine
ecosystem is considered illegal and punishable. Also, the illegality of the act can be concerned
with the species caught or the type of fishing gear used. Fishing goes beyond food and income.
The traditional fishing method can only sustain their day-to-day needs, but it cannot support their
family’s other essential needs, such as education and hospitalization. The fishermen had no
choice but to switch their method to more profitable but punishable acts, engaging in illegal
fishing allows them to almost double their catches. The solution to cut down on illegal fishing is
not only to protect the strait but the fisher folk as well.