The monitoring, control and surveillance section of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 8 has scored a big catch with the apprehension of a Taiwanese fishing vessel some 70 miles off the coast of Maydolong, Eastern Samar.
BFAR patrol boat MCS 3003 of the Philippine Coast Guard apprehended last Saturday foreign vessel Chung Long I while fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone in the Pacific Ocean, particularly on the tuna route of Eastern Samar, with the use of long-line fishing method.
The apprehended vessel has eight crewmembers - two of them Taiwanese, five mainland China nationals and one Indonesian.
The crew members were identified as Taiwanese Cheng Feng I, master of the boat, and Tsay Jenn; Yang Zhiheng, Liu Jianhe, Shi Gouquan and Cui Chunsun of mainland China; and Indonesian Joni Deki Sumual Roli.
Sarmiento said that aside from the fine of $100,000, the penalty for the offense could include confiscation of the catch and the vessel. When apprehended, the vessel had a catch of one-ton yellow-fin tuna and some high-value fish like blue marlin, Sarmiento said.
MCS 3003 is one of the two patrol boats bought by the Philippine government from Spain. It arrived on May 26, 2004 for use in the monitoring, control and surveillance of Region 8 waters. It is 30 meters in length with three 1,400HP engines.