3 factories make shark “fish balls”

CEBU, Philippines - At least three large seafood companies in the province have reportedly been using thresher shark meat as an ingredient in making fish balls and tempura.

Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force head Loy Anthony Madrigal said he got this information from his sources who are workers of one of the companies. He said they informed him that shark meat serves as alternative for a fish locally known as “barla” in making sea food products like tempura and fish balls.

“Ingon sila nga common practice na gyud ni sa ilang company. Dagko daw ning mga kompanyaha dinhi sa Cebu,” he told The FREEMAN. He declined to name the said companies.

The province’s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ordinance 2012 prohibits the hunting of thresher sharks which are enlisted as a ‘vulnerable’ marine species.

Madrigal added that he was told that the said companies have no knowledge about the existing ordinance.

The Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998 also prohibits the fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species as listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an international agreement between governments that ensures protection of endangered animals.

Last Wednesday night in Naga City, almost 500 kilos of thresher shark meat on board an Isuzu Elf truck was intercepted by authorities. The truck, with license plate numbers YKC-424, reportedly belongs to Tirso’s Fish Food Products in Lapu-Lapu City.

The matter has been referred to the Provincial Legal Office which will determine the actions to be taken against the violators.

Madrigal said the Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega will file today the formal complaint.

He also said their legal office will also give recommendation as to what to do against the three other companies that reportedly use shark meat in sea food products.

He further urged the companies to surrender any shark meat being stored.

The seized shark meat in Naga City has been buried in a lot at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

The truck driver and his truck boys were also released on Friday, pending the filing of the formal complaint against them.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)