PCG slams China’s obstruction of dynamite fishing probe near Pag-asa
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday slammed the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) for reportedly obstructing a Philippine operation against suspected dynamite fishing by foreign vessels near Pag-asa Island.
The PCG said the agency, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group responded to reports of suspected dynamite fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island, on Sunday morning.
“At around 0720H, personnel of the Joint Task Unit Pag-asa saw a foreign fishing vessel apparently doing blast fishing in the area. CGD KIG (Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group) quickly formed an inter-agency team. The team deployed PCG High-Speed Response Boat HSRB-019, a Philippine Navy RHIB and rubber boat, and a PNP Maritime Group RHIB,” the PCG said.
The PCG noted that as the team left the sheltered port of Pag-asa Island around 9:50 a.m., CCG vessels 5102 and 21581 moved toward it and sounded their horns at the Philippine team.
As the team reached the fishing vessel about 500 meters east-southeast of Sandy Cay 2 around 10 a.m., the suspected small boats returned to their mother vessel. The agency said the team ordered the vessel to stop, but it ignored the orders.
As the team followed the vessel, the PCG reported that CCG 21581 blocked and shadowed the Philippine team and even came within about 10 yards of HSRB-019. The Philippine team returned safely to Pag-asa Island around 10:48 a.m. after it stopped following the mother vessel “for safety reasons.”
The PCG condemned the incident, noting that dynamite fishing is prohibited under the Philippine Fisheries Code.
“The PCG stresses that this was a routine law enforcement operation against an illegal and destructive practice. It was not directed at any country. The incident will be documented and referred through the Department of Foreign Affairs for appropriate action through existing channels,” it said.
It added that the CCG “has no law enforcement authority in the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island. By obstructing Philippine authorities, the CCG did not protect the marine environment. It made it easier for a suspected violator to escape.” /mcm
