Retired captain Romeo Tapayan (left) supervises the unloading of illegally-caught fish from one of the three fishing boats intercepted in the waters off Talisay City.
At least 53 crew members of three fishing boats from Danao City were apprehended for illegally fishing within the waters of Talisay City at past 5 a.m. yesterday.
Authorities intercepted the MV Reym Joy, FB Jesnor and FB Gretchen in the waters 10 kilometers off Talisay City and confiscated 700 kilos of tulingan (skipjack tuna) and budboron (shortfin scad).
The MV Reym Joy had a 15-man crew led by Capt. Celso Remarca.
The FB Jesnor was manned by 12 crewmen led by Capt. Pablito Hermosilla while the FB Gretchen carried 26 crew led by Capt. Modesto Gonzaga.
The three vessel masters were taken into custody for questioning while the crewmembers were later released.
The vessels were impounded by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force and are now at the Naval Forces Central Base.
Capitol security officer Loy Anthony Madrigal said the fishermen were using fine nets and failed to present permits from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
Romeo Tapayan, the provincial government consultant on peace and order and coordinator of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force Capitol said the use of fine nets is a violation of Republic Act 8550 or the Fisheries Code.
The masters and chief mates will be fined P3,000 each while the crewmembers will each be fined P500.
The owners also face charges and fines since the permits for their vessels had not been renewed since 2012.
Madrigal said he was informed by a Talisay City Bantay Dagat member about the presence of the vessels.