By Jezza A. Nepomoceno

A criminal complaint was formally filed over the weekend against the captain and the owner of the “Princess Mae” fishing boat, which was recently caught using a Danish seine, a type of banned fishing net used for commercial fishing, often referred to as hulbot-hulbot.
Captain Johnny Guban and owner Alberto Aurelio, of Roxas City, Capiz, were charged in violation of RA 10654, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998; and Fisheries Administrative Order 246, which bans the use of the Danish seine.
Last Friday, Guban was caught using the said net approximately 4.6 kilometers off the coast of Barangay Punta, in Carles, Iloilo.
According to authorities, the boat was impounded, which included a Danish seine, two rolls of scaring lines, a tom weight, a 6D15 Mitsubishi engine, shafting, a propeller, a rudder, two pairs of mechanical winches powered by a 4D30 Mitsubishi engine, 10 containers of diesel fuel, 25 tubs of assorted fish, a fish finder, a generator set, and water pump.
Guban is currently detained at the Carles Municipal Police Station./WDJ