PB amends ordinance to expand shark trade ban

Cebu province finalized yesterday a wider ban on the slaughter and trade of all shark species after the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) amended a 2012 ordinance that protects various marine resources.

The Provincial Board passed on third and final reading the amende version of Ordinance 2012-05 or the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ordinance of Cebu.

“Wala na ni lusot (There’s not more escape). This is all encompassing,” commented dive shop operator amd shark advocate Gary Cases during the regular session at the Capitol’s Legislative Building.

He said the ordinance would strengthen the legal basis for apprehending shark traders and filing charges against them in court.

It also addressed a loophole on the ban on the gathering and transport of brown algae in Cebu, locally known as “samu” or “kwapo” if it lacks necessary legal documents.

Mass motion

The amendment was sponsored by PB Member Thadeo Ouano, who heads the committee on the environment.

It was approved on mass motion.

An additional provision on the protection of “threatened or endangered species as a whole or in parts as determined by law, ordinance, legal issuance and by the Department of Agriculture” was also adopted.

Cases said even persons or local Cebu businesses that import shark meat from other countries can be held liable as well.

“Mere possession is already deemed illegal so this is very good,” he said.

The updated ordinance now declares it unlawful to “fish or take, possess, transport, deal in, sell or in any manner dispose any shark species” unless one has a special permit for science or education purposes.

Before the amendments, the 2012 ordinance only included in its scope of protection particular species of Thresher Sharks commonly found in Malapascua Island in north Cebu and Whale Sharks (tuki) that abound in south Cebu towns, Giant Manta Rays (sanga) and Sunfish (mola mola).

The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna Lewini) and Squat-headed Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna Mokarran) which were listed as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are also included in the ordinance.

Violators face a P5,000 fine or a maximum of l year in jail or both at the discretion of the court.
The PB also called on the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to set guidelines for the regulation of tourist spots that involve shark species.

In his resolution, PB Member Miguel Magpale requested for both agencies to release a joint administrative order for the purpose.

PB set to approve measure banning trade of all sharks

Provincial Board seeks ban on hunting hammerhead sharks