TACLOBAN CITY – A box of assorted shark's fin with an estimated weight of 11 kilograms and an estimated worth of Php77,000 was seized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stationed in Sta Clara Port, Allen, Northern Samar on March 17, 2023.
The box was loaded inside an Eagle Star Bus headed to Cubao/Pasay but was intercepted during the regular inspection of outgoing provincial buses bound for Manila and other Luzon areas.
Initially loaded in a bus with a route from Dolores, Eastern Samar, to Pasay/Cubao, the box encountered mechanical issues while on its way to Sta. Clara Port. All the items inside the bus were transferred to another bus with an Ormoc-Cubao/Pasay route, which was apprehended by the authorities.
During the inspection, the driver of the identified bus failed to present traceability documents, such as an auxiliary invoice and Local Transport Permit (LTP) of the commodity’s point of origin. The alleged shipment owner, a resident of Esperanza, Masbate, claimed that the shark's fins were to be sold to a certain buyer in Cubao.
The BFAR Quarantine Officers conducted protocol documentation such as notice of violation, seizure receipts, inventory receipts, photo documentation, the actual identification of the shipment, and evidence tagging.
Transportation of shark fin violates Section 102 (Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species) of the Amended Fisheries Code of the Philippines. If found guilty, the alleged offender may face imprisonment of 12 years, one (1) day to 20 years, and a fine equivalent to five (5) times the value of the species or Php500,000 to Php5M.
The apprehending officers are currently gathering pertinent documents for filing appropriate charges and properly disposing of the seized items. —iTacloban (Source: BFAR-8)