891 kilos ‘dynamite’ fish seized in La Union

By Erwin G. Beleo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — A truck carrying a total of 891 kilos of fish allegedly caught through dynamite fishing was intercepted at the city’s auxiliary wet market Monday, the City Agriculture Office (CAO) said.

Fish Examiner Dolores Gurtiza said sampling of the 27 crates of round scad fish, locally known as “galunggong,” were found positive of traces of underwater explosion.

        CAO Aquaculturist Florycel Obeña identified the owner of the fish shipment worth P77,000 as Bobby Barba, of Barangay Catbangen, this city. Barba will be penalized P5,000 in accordance with the City Fishery Ordinance, said Obeña.

Meanwhile, the truck which transported the fish – Amelia Fish Dealer – was not liable for the violation since it was only rented to deliver the fish from Solomague, Ilocos Sur, to the San Fernando Auxiliary Wet Market.

Gurtiza said the fishes, known in this province as “palapal” (decapterus macarellus), cannot be sold in the market.

A source from the CAO said the 891 kilos of fish will, instead, be distributed to charitable institutions and public institutions like the city jail.