Blasted fish weighing 25 tons was seized in two operations in Tuburan town, midnorth Cebu early morning yesterday.
Seven persons were apprehended and turned over to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) until a decision is made by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III whether or not to file charges against them.
Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella, coordinator of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force and Penro head, said the seized boxes of fish came from the towns of Medellin and San Remigio.
Each ton of seized fish was worth P4,000.
The first apprehension happened at 5:50 a.m where 19 trucks of sardinella (tuloy) fish were seized in barangay Daan Lungsod.
The boxes of fish were owned by Rosita Siarot. Siarot, Joel Agag, Justin Albaño, Bonifacio Siarot Jr., all from Balamban town, were apprehended.
At 7:30 a.m., another truck was caught carrying six tons of blasted fish owned by Rustom Aviles.
Apprehended along with Aviles were Janet Aviles and Edmund Lepitin, all from Medillen town.
Estella said the fish were confirmed to have been caught through dynamite fishing based on examination by Rodillo Codilla of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources -Central Visayas (BFAR-7).
“The gas bladder of the fish was busted and mixed with blood and internal organs were crushed and mixed with blood,” said Codilla in his report.
The seized fish will be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7), SOS Children’s Village in barangay Talamban, and other charitable institutions, said Estella.
Last August 26, 11 boxes or 770 kilos of assorted fishes believed to be caught though dynamite fishing were seized by the anti-illegal fishing task force in barangay Cotcot, Liloan town.