Foreigners poaching in Tubbataha reefs and elsewhere in the R.P.

[Gilligan]

An INTERESTING ARTICLE in the Philippine Star regarding a Chinese boat catching and butchering turtles off Palawan. The article also accuses Chinese and Vitenamese fishing boats of poaching the Tubbataha Reefs and elsewhere in the Philippines.

 

[Gen San Chris]

This is a very regular occurance in the Philippines, the bad guys get captured by the Navy or Coast Guard who escort the impounded fishing boats to port! The usual oucome is that the crew are released along with their vessel as a mark of friendship to the host nation of the culprits!
Philippino fishermen who get captured usually get jail time and loose their boat unless they can raise money to lubricate the local justice system!
I think that instead of taking such vessels into custody, they should be turned into artificial reefs instantly along with the crew!
Being nice is no way to stop such actions by people who know that they will not get punished for their crimes!

 

[World Wide Diver]

The Philippine Coastguard needs modern, fast craft and money for resources - including fuel. If just a small fraction of 'graft' cash was spent on this, then this situation could better be dealt with.

I'll also add that Taiwanese commercial longliners are often spotted way inside Philippine waters by fishermen in Southern Mindanao. One longline boat can and does empty a large area of shark in a matter of days.

If I had a say, the boats of ALL poachers would be burnt at sea (televised live if possible) and the crew jailed for 5 years after a widely syndicated televised public trial.

Let's look to the future and hope things will change.

 

[dingho]

this is what wrong with a country that talk about human right? those foreigners waiting for count trial at Bay Park, Puerto Princessa dare tell tourists, that they have been kipnap for trial. P.P. knew it, last year, but seem don't care!!!