The two boats, San Felipe 100 and San Felipe 109, are owned by N. H. Agro Industrial Inc., from General Santos City, Philippines.
“They only have license to fish in Philippine waters,” said Norvert H. Yano, director of Bureau of Public Safety. He said the boats were apprehended west of Palau and east of the Philippines.
According to him, these fishing boats are normally used as support boats for mother ships. “These are the kinds that are usually used at night. They make use of big lights to lure schools of fish in,” he explained. When they come, he said, that’s the time when they call the mother ship to throw the nets on the waters.
Each boat has three crew members. “Right now, they’re at the Marine Law Enforcement office where they live on the boats,” said Director Yano. “But before they can go anywhere they need to be checked by the doctors first. After which, they will be processed by the Attorney General’s office.”
According to him, they might be charged for fishing in Palau waters without license. But in previous cases, he said they kept the fishermen at the Marine Law Enforcement office until investigations were over, charged the captain or fined the company.
“It all depends on the size of the boats,” he explained. “There’s always an issue with the water territory. There’s still no formal agreement with regard to that.”
The two were the first illegal fishing vessels apprehended by Remeliik this year. It sailed on Monday afternoon for its first maritime surveillance for this year and had to come back 10 days earlier than its expected return.
