Rota man charged with illegal fishing
A Rota resident was slapped with administrative charges before the Division of Fish and Wildlife for illegally harvesting some 65 pieces of trochus, a protected shellfish in the Commonwealth.
Ricky M. Manglona was seen by DFW men free-diving and harvesting the specie from the Sasanhaya Bay, a marine sanctuary, according to Lands and Natural Resources public information officer Marianne Teregeyo.
In a press statement, Teregeyo said Manglona admitted harvesting trochus for his family’s consumption.
She said Manglona was charged with violation of the Non-commercial Fishing and Hunting Regulations.
A provision of the regulations states: “No trochus may be taken except during open season as declared by the [DLNR] Secretary, after consultation with the [DFW] Director….”
Teregeyo said harvesting the specie has not been declared open for about 10 years already. This was to allow the trochus to propagate.
All the trochus fished out by Manglona were returned back into the Sasanhaya Bay.
Meanwhile, Manglona faces an administrative hearing before the DFW.
