Siaton police have apprehended the crew of a fishing boat for fishing within 300 meters from the shore in Antulang, Siaton.
The police officers, SPO4 Jovito M. Quirit, SPO 2 Bayani R. Gabo and auxiliary policeman Lorenzo G. Kinkito boarded the Sr. Sto Nino fishing boat last Friday, after the received a report from concerned citizens in the area. The boat is allegedly owned by a councilman of barangay Maloh, also in Siaton town.
Aside from fishing too close to the shore and depriving marginal fishermen of a chance to fish in that area, the crew was also found to be using fine-meshed nets. These are banned fishing gear because they catch even the very small and young fish. The fishing boat also did not have registration papers with the Maritime Industry Authority.
Gena Dayon, a volunteer guardian of the Dive Hub Marine Protected Area in Antulang, said rampant illegal fishing still remains a threat to the reef. Antulang is a rich fishing ground, which attracts fishermen from far places.
Dayon said that based on studies, the Dive Hub MPA is coming out highest in performance among Marine Protected Areas in Negros Oriental which may surpass the Apo Island MPA. (Alex Pal)