By Archie T. Barone
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Nov. 11 (PNA) — The management office of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) filed illegal fishing charges Wednesday against seven fishermen, who were caught within the protected marine area.
Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) information officer Glenda Simon said the seven fishermen were arrested Sunday morning aboard F/B Joymar within the marine park.
Simon identified the skipper of the boat as Adrian Milan Friginal. He and the six others, whose names are not immediately available, will be sued for violation of Section 19 of Republic Act 10067 or the “Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009” for unlawful entry.
They will also be charged for violating Section 26 of the same law, or for catching fish within the marine park.
The seven fishermen are reportedly residents of Barangay Bagong Sikat, Puerto Princesa, and their boat is owned by a certain Glenn Ariniola.
“Our radar detected the entry of their fishing boat in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park that was why they were immediately arrested by our park rangers,” Simon said.
Recovered from the possession of the fishermen were fishing paraphernalia and around 200 kilos of tuna.
When asked, the crewmen of F/B Joymar reportedly said that they came from Zamboanga, and were on their way home to Puerto Princesa.
The filing of the case was facilitated by TMO lawyer, Atty. Allan Romero.
It can be noted that just recently, the TRNP was declared as the 35th ASEAN Heritage Park in Southeast Asia. (PNA)