Navy arrests fishermen using destructive fishing gears off Surigao

The Philippine Navy arrested fishermen aboard three commercial vessels off Surigao del Norte for using fishing gears that could damage the environment, a television report said Thursday.

A report on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon" said the fishermen were engaged in liba-liba (Danish Seine).



Such nets could harm the environment and damage corals, the report said.

Danish Seine, is a form of fishing that destroys coral reefs. It uses a set of fishing gear consisting of a conical net with a pair of wings the end of which are connected to a rope embedded with buri, plastic strips, sinkers or similar materials to serve as herding device and hauled through a mechanical winch or by manpower.

Balita Pilipinas said that while some of the fishermen tried to flee, the Navy vessel caught up with them.

The fishermen will be charged for violating the Fisheries Code. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News