According to the information these Malaysina fishing boats were seized on the charge of being fishing into Philippines waters. Philippines border officials based in Taganak Island under the Tawi Tawi province released the trawlers after the owners paid “fines” ranging from RM13,000 to RM40,000 for allegedly encroaching their waters.
Fishing industry insider informed that two more trawlers remained in detention at Taganak, an island about 60km or an hour speedboat ride from here. The owners are in the process of getting the trawlers released in the next few days. Philippines National Police had detained 14 Sandakan-based fishing trawlers with over 50 crew members for allegedly encroaching into the country’s waters during an operation on Feb 14 and Feb 15.
It is also told that two of the boats were released on Friday and six others on Saturday, industry sources said adding that they were expecting the remaining two to be released in a few days. Tawi Tawi Governor Sadikul Sa hali has assured that he would try to secure an early release for the trawlers.
