PCG: No foreign poachers caught in Aurora after 2010 arrest of two Taiwanese vessels

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said no foreign poachers have been arrested in Baler, Aurora since they apprehended two Taiwanese fishing vessels in 2010, a report of Steve Dailisan for GMA Network's "24 Oras" said.

“Wala na po kaming kasunod na mga info na merong Taiwanese vessel na dumadaan-daan,” Petty Officer 1st class Gregorio Antolin said, adding “Dito sa Baler kami po ang mata, tainga saka bibig ng PCG dito.”

The PCG, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), apprehended the two ships in May 2010 when at least eight Taiwanese fishermen were taken into custody.

The fishermen were caught fishing illegally within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

They were fined before being deported and their ships were confiscated.

One ship was repaired and is now used by BFAR to conduct sea monitoring operations while the other was abandoned and left to rust in the shores of Baler.

Not new to foreign poachers

BFAR Director Asis Perez said foreign poachers have long been doing illegal activities within Philippine waters.

“Base po sa ating mga dokumento at sa historical record ng ating mga kaso, taun-taon po mayroon po tayong nahuhuli na mga iba-ibang nasyon [na poachers],” Perez said.

“Partikular po diyan sa bandang Batanes hanggang sa bandang Cagayan at Aurora, nakakahuli po tayo ng mga Taiwanese fishing vessel,” He added.

In an earlier report, Perez said there are many poaching incidents in the country but Philippine authorities with limited resources manage to catch only five to 10 poachers every year within the 200 nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.

He also noted around two to three Taiwanese are caught poaching each year in the Batanes group of islands in northern Philippines where a recent shooting incident sparked a row between Taiwan and the Philippines.

On May 9, 2013 a Taiwanese fisherman suspected of poaching was allegedly shot by the PCG in the Balintang Channel, resulting in his death.

This has triggered public outrage in Taiwan with Taipei demanding that the Philippines apologize, compensate the family of the fisherman, conduct an impartial investigation and open talks on fishing agreement. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News