Davao fisherman faces raps for killing dolphin, selling its meat

DAVAO CITY – Southern Mindanao officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are set to file charges against a fisherman who caught a dolphin in the Davao Gulf last Wednesday, slaughtered it and sold its meat to his neighbors at P40 per kilo.

The fisherman, Jun Retaga, a resident of Barangay 31-D here, said the dolphin was trapped in his net while he was fishing in the Davao Gulf Wednesday night.

An ABS-CBN TV crew, however, chanced upon Retaga and his neighbors slaughtering the dolphin and selling its meat to residents in the area.

BFAR Region 11 director George Campeon said killing a dolphin and selling its meat violate Fisheries Administrative Order No. 185 Series of 1992.

Section 2 of FAO 185 makes it unlawful to take or catch dolphins in Philippine waters or to sell, purchase, possess, transport or export the marine animal, whether dead or alive, in any state or form, whether raw or processed.

A special permit may be issued by the agriculture secretary, upon the recommendation of the BFAR director, to any government or private agency or institution engaged in research work on dolphins, including those to be used for exhibition or show purposes, subject to the terms and conditions that the agriculture chief may impose.

FAO 185 also makes it unlawful to wound or kill dolphins in the course of catching other species of fish.

Dolphins, which are accidentally included in the catch by any gear, shall immediately be released unharmed in the sea, otherwise the liability is deemed to still exist, according to the order.

Dead dolphins that are washed ashore shall be turned over to the nearest Department of Agriculture office for proper disposition.

Violators of FAO 185 face a fine from P500 to P5,000, or imprisonment, at the court’s discretion.

The BFAR director is also reportedly empowered to impose an administrative fine of not more than P5,000 or cancel the offender’s permit or license at his discretion, including the confiscation of the dolphin for proper disposition.