TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have arrested 18 Vietnamese fishermen on board three fishing boats poaching off the waters of Calayan Island, Cagayan last week.

Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR national Director Asis Perez said the Vietnamese nationals were caught in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“They were caught red-handed poaching in our waters by our vigilant Coast Guard personnel and our men brought the erring vessels to Port Irene,” he said.

PCG commanding officer, Captain Allen Toribio, said they were conducting patrol operations when they spotted three Vietnamese fishing vessels.

“We have received information that there were poachers roaming the waters of Cagayan. They would come at night then leave early morning. Once we were able to establish a pattern we conducted an operation, “ Toribio was quoted as saying by Philippine Star News.

He said the fishing boats were found carrying large quantities of frozen tuna.

“There is a shallow area in Calayan Bank where you can catch tuna,” said Toribio.

The fishing boats have been towed to Port Irene in Santa Ana town for processing under the custody of the BFAR and the PCG.

– TiVi Tuan-san