92 boxes of endangered shell species seized

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines -— The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel have confiscated 92 boxes of endangered shell during an inspection at the Barcelona Port in Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Monday.

BFAR provincial director Carlito Delfin said the helmet shells were confiscated because these were declared endangered species, thus harvesting them is a violation of the Fisheries Code of 1998.

He said a total of 3,000 helmet shells were placed inside the large boxes, ready for shipment. The shells were to be sold at P300 to P500 per piece for making ornaments and lamps, the reason why people are harvesting these marine species.

Delfin added that cases were filed against the cargo forwarder, as authorities have yet to identify the perpetrators.  (FREEMAN)