Ten fishermen from Calapan City were arrested Wednesday for unauthorized fishing in municipal waters, authorities said.

The Municipal Fishery Law Enforcement Team (MFLET) conducted a special operation at 7:00 pm on April 23, 2025 that resulted in the apprehension of three boats actively laying nets in the waters off Barangay Estrella and San Antonio.

The Fisheries Management Office (FMO) of Naujan confirmed the fishermen were Calapan City residents after examining their identification documents.

Officials impounded the three large fishing vessels along the shoreline of Barangay Estrella.

The apprehended fishermen were informed of the violation and underwent the appropriate legal processing.

According to FMO officer Sean Nagutom, the existing Naujan ordinance only permits registered residents of the municipality to fish in its municipal waters.

“The local government prioritizes the welfare of Naujan residents regarding the utilization of their marine resources,” Nagutom said.

The arrested fishermen were fined in accordance with Municipal Ordinance No. 39, series of 2005.