BFAR task force apprehends 6 sea vessels

PILI, Camarines Sur (Oct. 14, 2011) – Charges of  violation of RA 8550 or the Amended Fisheries Code of the Philippines have been filed against the owners of 6 fishing vessels that are used in large-scale illegal fishing in Ragay Gulf.

The vessels are now in the custody of a special task force of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)  central office.

The crew of the said vessels were were caught in Ragay Gulf  early this week using prohibited fishing gears like fine nets, bag nets and ring nets.

Use of these fishing gears result in the depletion of spawning grounds for fishes in San Miguel Bay and Ragay Gulf, adding to the destruction caused by the worsening dynamite fishing in the area.

 BFAR Bicol director Dennis Del Socorro said that the presence of the task force in Bicol waters was supposed to be classified information. But recently a  local radio station revealed the operation of the task force.

Del Socorro said that the task force dubbed, “BFAR’s Quick Response Team,” was sent to Bicol by BFAR national director, lawyer Assis Perez, on orders of President Benigno Aquino III. Its mission is to check the growing number of big fishing vessels used in illegal fishing practices.

The25 members of the BFAR task force that included Philippine Coast Guard personnel  were reportedly armed, when they apprehended 80 crew members of the 6 vessels .

The “Quick Response Team” is using a special water -craft fast enough to chase fast fishing vessels.

There are 10 of such vessels that are used by the BFAR against its illegal fishing drive nationawide.

Del Socorro added, the Bicol operation of the task force was a prompt response by the government to a letter sent by 8 Bicol bishops to  President Aquino, urging him to address the worsening practice of illegal fishing in Bicol seas.  (SONNY SALES)