A fishing vessel was caught carrying around 1,200 kilos of green mussels, harvested despite a red tide warning placed on several areas in Eastern Visayas, off Carigara Bay.
OPERATIVES of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently intercepted a fishing vessel illegally transporting green mussels or tahong in Carigara Bay.
Edmar Petallana, head of the BFAR Region 8’s monitoring control and surveillance division, the vessel, owned by a resident from Villareal, Samar, was caught carrying around 1,200 kilos of green mussels.
The vessel’s operator also failed to present a Local Transport Permit from BFAR and Auxiliary Invoice where the mussels were from.
Concerned citizens tipped off the authorities on the illegal harvesting of mussels by the vessels, despite a red tide ban currently imposed in Carigara Bay.
At least 11 bays in Eastern Visayas have been placed under a shellfish ban due to the red tide phenomenon that still persists in the region.
In an advisory issued June 1, BFAR confirmed that red tide toxins remain in Irong-irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar; and Maqueda Bay covering the seawaters of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San, Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan towns in Samar.
Also listed as red tide-hit are Carigara Bay covering the towns of Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara and Capoocan, Leyte; Ormoc Bay covering Ormoc City, Merida, and Albuera in Leyte; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; coastal waters of Zumarraga, Samar; seawaters of Daram, Samar; Villareal Bay in Villareal, Samar; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; and coastal waters of Calubian in Leyte province.
The suspect would be facing a P1,000 to P10,000 fine or one to two years imprisonment for violating Fisheries Administrative Orders (FAOs) 233 and 235.
Tags: #OpinYon8, #redtide, #CarigaraBay, #illegalfishing