Truck caught with “endangered shells”

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force (CPAITF) Yesterday intercepted a truck carrying more than 50 sacks of assorted shells, believed to be protected species, in Liloan town.

The truck reportedly came from Daanbantayan and was carrying some shell species from Masbate.

Retired navy captain Romeo Tapayan, who heads the CPAITF, identified some of the shells as species of Cypraea leucodon (White-toothed cowrie), Cypraea mariae (Marie’s cowrie) Cypraea valentia (Prince cowrie).

“Meron tayong chart kasi ng mga bawal na cowries (we have a chart that shows the protected marine species and should not be caught),” he explained.

Tapayan said that they will have to check further the documents presented by the driver of the truck since the auxiliary invoice was issued in Medellin even though the truck came from Daanbantayan. The driver also failed to show a transport permit, said Tapayan.

He said those who catch these protected species will face violation of the Fishe-ries Administrative Order 208 pursuant to Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

White-toothed, Marie’s, and Prince cowries are enlisted under the FAO 208 as “rare” species which means that these aquatic resources have a small population that are not endangered or vulnerable at present but should be conserved and not be caught.

Violators will be punished by imprisonment from 12 years to 25 years or a fine of P120, 000, or both, aside from the cancellation of the operator’s fishing permit.

As of press time, the truck, owned by a certain Antonio Pepito from Masbate, as well as the shells were kept at the Capitol compound, pending the examination of the species conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7.

Rolando Corrales, quarantine officer of BFAR-7, said they have yet to verify if the seized shells are all protected species under the law.

Tapayan said that he would refer the matter to the Provincial Legal Office.

The driver and the consignee refused to comment to the media. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/ATO (FREEMAN)