In this photograph taken in June 2014, a military officer stands on the beach on Pag-asa Island, which hosts a small Filipino town and an airstrip used for civilian and military flights in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. - AFP Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1787922/ph-navy-detects-illegal-fishing-activities-intercepts-vietnames-near-pag-asa-island#ixzz84axnLI4E Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Vietnamese fishermen were intercepted after encroaching the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, a Philippine Navy commander said on Wednesday (June 14).
The Navy’s last apprehension was in December 2022, according to Western Command director Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos.
“We caught Vietnamese fishermen entering Pag-asa Island’s waters in December,” said Carlos during the Laging Handa Public Briefing.
Carlos reported cyanide and compressor fishing. However, he did not indicate if foreign nationals did these.
“We seized the equipment used for cyanide fishing but could not apprehend the culprits as they escaped on their vessels,” he said.
Carlos said the Navy would keep patrolling the West Philippine Sea with other government authorities to stop illegal fishing.
“Our ships will patrol for illegal fishing with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” he said.
