By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

The Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force nabbed 15 fishermen yesterday for fishing without a permit in the towns of Concepcion and Carles.
Lovelyn Sy, Jose Villamor, Merlyn Guiñez, and Noli Guiñez were fined while operating with round haul/seine fishnets; Romy Pateño, Ariel de la Cruz, Jose Gomez, Benito Binoman, Ricardo Gonzales, and Ronald Bacolinao were caught operating shrimp trawlers; and LiLibeth Cañeso, Jose Gomez, Joar Perfecto, Liezel Arcosa, and Francisco Mamadis were nabbed operating squid trawlers.
According to SPO1 Jose Ronnie Panes, it is illegal to fish without a permit and operate active gear within 12 kilometers from the shoreline. The fishermen were fined between P2,500 and P5,000, and were released following payment./WDJ