Capitol Task Force Kalikasan chief Loy Madrigal holds up samples of shark fins loaded in a 20-foot container van stopped at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. (CDN PHOTO/ JUNJIE MENDOZA)
About 5,000 kilos of shark fins stored in a 20-foot container van bound for Hong Kong were ordered released by the regional Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) hours after it was intercepted yesterday morning.
The Cebu provincial government’s Task Force Kalikasan apprehended the truckload of dried shark fins near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Lapu-Lapu City.
The truck was headed to the Cebu International Ports.
Shark fins are valued in Asian countries where restaurants serve them in soup as exotic, high priced items on the menu.
Task force chief Loy Madrigal said truck driver Marlon Obasa presented shipment papers.
BFAR representative Randolf Corrales, who inspected the contents of the container van deposited at the Cebu International Convention Center, said the fins belonged to blue sharks and not thresher sharks, whose capture is banned in a Cebu province ordinance since it is vulnerable to extinction.
Shark conservationists have been lobbying for national legislation to protect all shark species.
A broker from Shell Haven Fashion International, who refused to be interviewed, was accompanied by BFAR personnel and showed documents to Madrigal.
Corrales said blue sharks are not among the marine animals listed for protection by the provincial government.
He left samples of shark fins at the BFAR office for further study.
The Provincial Board last Monday approved on second reading amendments to its 2012 Fisheries Ordinance to widen the scope of the ban on fishing, transporting or selling to cover “any shark species” and not just thresher sharks. The ordinance still has to undergo third and final reading.
“Wala man ko kahibalo, igo ra mi mag-drive ana padung sa pier para ikarga na sa barko (I really don’t know about that. I just drove the van heading to Pier area to be loaded in a ship),” said the truck driver.
The driver presented documents to show that the cargo was owned by Shell Haven Fashion International and were heading for Hong Kong.
Madrigal said he suspects the shark fins came from Zamboanga City and were shipped to Cebu.
Lapu-Lapu City police said they received complaints from residents about a foul smell coming from the area and tipped off the taskforce.
Supt. Virgil Ranes, Lapu-Lapu City police deputy director for operations who also heads the Task Force Kalikasan of Lapu-Lapu City, said they have scheduled an inspection of Shell Haven Fashion International at barangay Mactan.
A caretaker prohibited them from taking photos and declined to name the Chinese owner of the company.
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