Nine held for illegal fishing

The Philippines Coast Guard recently nabbed a group of Chinese and Indonesians suspected of fishing illegally off northern Luzon.

A belated report said three Taiwanese and six Indonesians were aboard the 'KMNA Tuna Lestar 8' when the Coast Guard arrested them off Sabtang island, La Union. The vessel is affiliated with a company in Puetro Princesa City, Palawan.

Currently, the Coast Guard is verifying the group's permit to fish, past incidents revealing that a number of foreign fishermen used fake documents to fish in local waters.

Coast Guard spokesperson Lt Abon Danilo said that Coast Guard Commander Admiral Ruben Lista ordered more patrols in that area.

The vessel was among a number that ply the northern islands of Palawan, based on intelligence reports on coastal activities in the area. The Philippines has been complaining of fishermen from neighbouring countries poaching in Philippine waters.

The United Nations Conven-tion on the Law of the Sea said the country's territorial waters should not exceed beyond 12 nautical miles. Foreign vessels are allowed transit passage but not illegal fishing in these waters.