Traders warned vs. selling illegally caught fish
LIABILITIES in illegal fishing do not end with the fisherfolks who do the catching, it only starts with them.
City Agriculturist Emma Molina reminded the public that trading, including possession, selling, transport and buying of fish harvested through unlawful means are also illegal and those caught involved in these will also be liable.
Molina reported that the Maritime Police last week apprehended two suspects who bought 35 kilograms of combined dilis (anchovy) and alumahan(mackerel) believed to have been caught with the use of dynamite.
Samples of the evidence were turned over to the City Agriculture Office (CAO) that handed it over to an expert for testing.
Molina said the samples yielded positive of dynamite fishing, as shown by bleeding in the orifice, crushed internal organs and ruptured abdomen.
Arrested were Eduard Quirimit and Roel Narvas, both fish traders from barangay Bonuan Binloc.
The traders said they bought the fish for P600 in a trading area along Cayanga River, situated between Bonuan Binloc and San Fabian town.
Although the two denied that they knew that the fish were caught illegally, the court ruled that they are still liable.
They are now undergoing probation.
“Engaging in the trading of illegally caught fish only encourages illegal fishing methods,” stressed Molina, adding that the Agriculture Office will intensify its campaign against illegal fishing in the city through its Bantay Ilog Task Force. (CIO)
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