By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY — Authorities seized approximately 180 kilograms of illegally caught golden trevally fish, locally known as “badlon,” at the Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market in Barangay 6 last Sunday.
Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in northern Negros Occidental, reported that six boxes of fish caught through dynamite fishing were abandoned by an unidentified individual in the area.
The discovery resulted from a random fish examination and joint landing denial operation conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Negros Occidental, the PCG, and Police Station 2 in the area.
Benjamin stated that the market denial and fish landing inspection aim to ensure that vendors do not sell fish that have been illegally caught through dynamite fishing.
The owner of the confiscated items may face administrative and criminal charges for violating Section 126 of Republic Act (RA) 10654, an amendment to RA 8550, also known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.”
This section pertains to the possession, dealing in, or disposal of illegally caught or taken fish. The law prohibits the shipping, commercial transport, sale, import, export, or possession of fish caught in violation of this code.
Benjamin confirmed that the confiscated fish were properly turned over to Holy Family Homes Inc., an orphanage in Barangay Cabug, as required by law.
