Staff of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, the Department of Maritime Affairs and Inspectors from the Ministry of Public Health responded to an alert of a gentleman fishing in the Rolandus Canal behind the RBTT Parking Lot in Philipsburg.
Upon arrival it was determined that the Gentleman was fishing using a gill or killer net. The use of Gill nets is prohibited without a license under the Fisheries Ordinance (Visserijbesluit (PB 1991, nr. 74)). The Gentleman was unable to provide any identification or any proof of a license to use a gill net. He was order to remove the net and release the fish he had already caught. Numerous fish were released including tilapia, mullet, and tarpon and a strong warning was given to the fisherman.