Cargo with shark fins intercepted

CEBU, Philippines - At least 5,000 kilos of shark fins were intercepted at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge yesterday but authorities eventually released the cargo after the owner produced import documents.

“The owner showed us documents that the shark fins were imported from Spain. Ang drying diri lang, before these will be shipped to Hong Kong for processing,” said Loy Madrigal, chief of the Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force.

Despite the release of the cargo, Madrigal said they secured three samples of the fins to find out if the raw materials did not come from Cebu, considering that Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town is a hive of thresher sharks.

A shark’s fin makes a sought-after soup.

Based on the documents produced by the driver of the truck that was transporting the dried fins, the cargo arrived in Cebu last July 31 and will be exported to Hong Kong on August 30.

“As much as I wanted to (seize) the cargo, lisud kaayo kay naa may documents,” Madrigal said.

The 5,000 kilos of shark fins were placed in a 20-footer truck. The truck driver, Marlon Obasa, said they were heading to the port area from Sitio Dapdap in Barangay Soong, Lapu-Lapu City.

Just last week, Madrigal’s team confiscated 19 kilos of thresher shark meat in barangay Tubigag Manok, Asturias town. The meat was reportedly on its way to Cebu City to be made as ingredients for fish ball or tempura. In June, the team also intercepted a truckload of shark meat in Naga City.

The Cebu provincial government has an existing ordinance which bans catching and trading of thresher sharks. It is also prohibited under Republic Act 8550 or the “Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.” — /JMO (FREEMAN)