Seized boats yield endangered sharks

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force on Wednesday intercepted in Daanbantayan town two fishing vessels carrying marine creatures considered as endangered.

The Task Force, together with members of the town’s Bantay Dagat office, spotted the boats in the waters off Isla de Gato, Daanbantayan.

Arrested were 16 crew members of fishing boat (FB) Angel May, which is reportedly owned by a certain Alma Arimas. At least four dried seahorses, a nurse shark, and 40 large basins of assorted fish were also seized from the boat.

According to Wikipedia, a nurse shark is a common inshore bottom-dwelling shark. It can reach a length of 4.3 meters and weight of 330 kilos. National Geographic said a nurse shark’s common habitats are reefs, channels between mangrove islands, and sand flats.

The same team also intercepted in the same area FB Laura-Rowella, which the task force said is owned by one Roy Vejandre,  carrying a nurse shark, two dried seahorses, and 150 basins of assorted fish were seized.

Both FB Angel May and Laura-Rowella were from Cadiz City, Negros Oriental.

Task force head Loy Anthony Madrigal said they have yet to determine whether or not the nurse sharks are in the list of endangered marine creatures.

He said the owners and crew members may face charges for violating Republic Act 8550 (Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998), which prohibits the fishing or taking of rare, threatened, or endangered marine species as listed in the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, which is an international agreement between governments that ensures protection of endangered animals.

Under the said law, violators will be punished with imprisonment of 12 years to twenty 20 years and/or a fine of P120,000 and forfeiture of the catch, and the cancellation of the fishing permit.

The two vessels are currently placed under the town’s custody.  (FREEMAN)