Prov’l gov’t, BFAR team up vs. sale of illegally caught fish

The Negros Occidental provincial government is closely coordinating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to prevent the sale of illegally caught fish in its food terminal located in Bacolod City, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said.

“We condemn (the act) for the safety of the people. Fish caught through dynamite fishing should not be sold. We are working closely with BFAR in implementing their guidelines,” Nellas, also the acting provincial administrator, said in an interview.

BFAR, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police intercepted around 180 kilograms of fish caught using dynamite abandoned at the Food Terminal Market of Negros Occidental (FTMON) during their conduct of the joint landing denial operation on Aug. 11.

These included six boxes of golden trevally, locally known as “badlon,” worth around PHP50,000.

The Economic Enterprise Development Department, which manages the operation of the FTMON, issued a memorandum order, noted by Nellas, to tenants, suppliers, and fish traders, prohibiting the selling of illegally obtained fish in the FTMON.

It stated that in compliance with Section 126 of The Fisheries Code, as amended, the province strictly prohibits the sale, possession, or dealing of illegally caught fish within the premises of the food terminal market.

Commander Jansen Benjamin, chief of Coast Guard Station – Northern Negros Occidental, said they could not identify anyone who could be charged for the illegal activity since the confiscated supply was abandoned.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)