After Cadiz City police earlier recovered almost P75,000 worth of sardines, locally known as ‘Tuloy,’ believed to have been culled as a result of blast fishing, or dynamite fishing, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said they are currently looking to crackdown on the practice.
He said police investigations revealed the fish were supposed to be delivered to Mindanao for buyers from Dipolog City and General Santos City.
Officials are also continuing to track down the financiers of the blast fishing operations.
Last Saturday, police arrested Arman Ardeza, Erwin Gumboc, Elmer Briones, Danilo Polines, Jr., Hendreson Estoya, Renald Pechera, and Aladino Ofril after personnel from the Office of the City Agriculturist determined the fish they were carrying in two mini trucks had been “dynamited.”
All seven face charges in violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and are presently detained at the Cadiz City Police Station.
Section 88 of RA 8550, or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, indicates fishing with the use of explosives is unlawful. Violators face a range of punishments, including up to 10 years in jail, for the possession of explosives intended for blast fishing, using the said explosives, or the sale of fish gathered through such methods./DGB, WDJ