Amid the intensified law enforcement of RA 10654 or an act to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF), two separate incidents of electrofishing were spotted in Abra recently.
Reports from the Langiden PNP states that two unidentified persons were seen to have been illegally catching fish with the use of electricity (battery-operated) at the river bank of Barangay Quillat, Langiden in Abra. This incident was reported through phone call by a Kagawad in the said Barangay, unto which the police immediately acted by going to the site. However, the suspects, upon seeing the police, hurriedly escaped and scurried away through a bamboo raft going to Brgy Sta. Rosa, Bangued leaving their electro-fishing gadgets. Among the seized gears include two 12 volts Motolite battery packs; electrical devices; two pcs wire rod with bamboo connection; two pcs bamboo fishing net (sagoy); and a fishing net containing different species weighing more or less one kilo. The seized items were turned-over to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources –CAR (BFAR-CAR) Provincial Fishery Office in Calaba, Bangued, Abra.
Meanwhile, in Dolores, Abra, police officers from the Municipal Police Station arrested Alvin Zapata, 34, who was caught in possession of an electrofishing device and several species of fish, allegedly after fishing with the use of the said device. This was encountered while conducting Foot Patrol Ops along the Malanas River at Barangay Bayaan. The gadget and the fish caught were confiscated and brought to Dolores MPS as part of the investigation.
To date, Zapata is currently detained and a criminal complaint has already been filed against him for violation of Section 92 of the RA 10654 which prohibits fishing through the use of Explosives, Noxious or Poisonous Substances, or Electricity.
If convicted, Zapata may face an imprisonment of 6 months, a fine of P5,000.00, or both.
Said IUU fishing refers to fishing activities that do not comply with national, regional, or international fisheries conservation or management legislation or measures. Fishing with the use of electricity is prohibited mainly because it affects the reproductive system not only of the fish caught, but those not caught as well which may result in the deterioration of biodiversity in the area.
This is part of the Bureau’s massive information drive against any form of illegal fishing activities and the enforcement of fishery laws in the Cordilleras, in coordination with the local government units.**rqf.BFAR
