FISHERMAN CAUGHT IN ILLEGAL FISHING

Thirteen (13) kilos of confiscated variety of fish were donated to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) last May 4, 2011 from an illegal fishing incident in Subic Bay off Kalaklan Lighthouse on the same day.

The incident was reported to the City Agriculture Office by the Kalaklan Fishermen’s Association (KAFA) saying that they saw Rodolfo Disuado, sixty-three(63) years old and resident of no. 80 Upper Kalaklan, was doing this ‘pukot’ activity.

The City Agriculture Office and Barangay Kalaklan sought the assistance of the Regional Maritime Office which caught in the act the suspect (Disuado) using a fifty-meter fine mesh net or pukot.

It can be recalled that earlier, Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. has already issued a warning against the use of "pukot" which has been declared illegal because it catches and kills even immature fishes, endangering the survival of fish species.

"Binalaan ko na ang mga grupo ng mamumukot na kung hindi sila titigil, mapipilitan ang lokal na gobyerno na ipakulong sila, ang pamumukot ay hindi patas sa kapwa nila mangingisda na patuloy namang gumagamit ng tamang paraan at isa pa, ito ay nakakaapekto sa balanse ng kalikasan,” Mayor Gordon explained.

"Kailangan nilang gawin ang tradisyunal na paraan ng pangingisda. Batay sa Fisheries Administrative Order no. 155, ipinagbabawal ang panghuhuli ng isda gamit ang fine mesh nets, nakakahuli kasi ito ng mga maliliit na isda na maari pang lumaki at mapakinabangan sa tamang panahon nito,” Mayor Gordon added.

Disuado vowed never to commit illegal fishing ever again in a letter to authorities.

The Maritime Police confiscated Disuado’s illegal materials for fishing and he was warned for the last time that he will be imprisoned if he is ever caught again.