Violators beware! Collectors of banned fishery products worth nearly Php 13 million were recently apprehended by local authorities during an operation conducted in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Dr. Allan Poquita, regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (BFAR Region 7), advises people to refrain from catching or gathering the protected species since they play a significant role to marine life.

He urged the public to help the bureau in curbing the illegal trade by reporting to authorities people who collect species protected under the fishery laws such as giant clams, helmet shells, and triton shells, among others.

BFAR Region 7, through its Fisheries Resource Protection Group (FRPG), was quick to respond to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s request for assistance after the former was alerted about the matter.

The officers, together with the barangay officials as witnesses, served the two search warrants on 30-June-2021 to two individuals from Sitio Lupa, Barangay Punta Engaño that were later on arrested after they were found committing several offenses.

The two were charged for violations of Section 96 (ban on coral exploitation and exportation); and Section 102 (fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species) that are both stipulated under Republic Act (RA) 10654 or “An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.”

They were also found violating Section 27 of RA 9147 or “The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act;” and Section 2 of Fisheries Administrative Order 158 or the “Prohibition on the Gathering, Taking, Collecting, Selling, Transporting, or Possessing for Sale of Mollusks Belonging to the Genus Triton or Charonia and Cassis.”

Moreover, the joint operation resulted to the confiscation of several banned fishery products found at the residence of the two arrested individuals:

• 3,213 pieces of helmet shell (Budyong);
• 384 pieces of giant clams (Taklobo);
• 107 pieces of small sized giant clams;
• three boxes containing 81 pieces of Triton shells;
• 52 kilograms of hoof shell (Kukong Kabayo);
• one box containing 42 pieces of shark jaws;
• one box containing three pieces of dried sea turtles;
• two sacks containing 33 pieces of organ pipe red corals.

Based from the inventory, the estimated appraised market value of the confiscated fishery products is pegged at Php 12.96 million.

CIDG took custody of the two arrested persons and the seized items while inquest proceedings will ensue.

Source: Report from Alberto Simbajon, Jr., BFAR 7 – Fisheries Resource Protection Group.