An export firm in Lapu-Lapu City engaged in drying shark fins that are in demand abroad was served a cease-and-desist order yesterday for operating without barangay or city permits.
The order of Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza was served past 4 p.m. in the premises of Shell Haven Fashion International in sitio Kasanta, barangay Mactan.
The mayor’s executive secretary Rolando Duero handed the order addressed to the owner Andrew Wee .
It was received by a security guard and the owner’s relative identified as Boni Santiago since Wee was not around.
The order said the mayor was acting on the complaints of neighbors about the foul order caused by the drying of shark fins.
Petition
A delivery of 17,861 kilos of shark fins from Spain arrived at the Cebu International Port on July 25 for Shell Haven.
By early August, the intense smell of fins drying under the sun inside the compound prompted neighbors to sign a petition, endorsed by the barangay captain, to City Hall appealing for relief.
Last Monday, the Provincial Board amended its fisheries ordinance to ban the capture, killing, transportation and sale of “all species of sharks.”
The ordinance is expected to have a direct impact on fish processing plants in Lapu-Lapu City which buy shark meat to make fish balls and use other parts of sharks.
In the mayor’s cease-and-desist order, Shell Haven was told to immediately stop construction work in its plant and processing of shark fins or other marine products or else City Hall would order its closure.
Permits
Shell Haven was also directed to assure the city in writing that the company would comply with the order and take steps to clean the air and surroundings immediately.
An inspection was made earlier at 11 a.m. by the City Business Inspection Board (CBIB).
The composite team found out that the activity of drying shark fins was not covered by local permits.
Catherine Wee, the company representative, was not able to show documents such as a barangay clearance, business permit, Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), renovation permit, mayor’s permit, sanitary permit or variance permit.
Lapu-Lapu City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez, head of the board, said they opened two 40-foot refrigerated container vans and found shark fins stocked inside.
Exporter
“We didn’t give them a time frame to comply with the requirements but as soon as they address all the problems then they can operate back their business,” Ybañez said.
The team included Engr. Roderico Taga-an Jr., head of the Community Environment Resources Office (Cenro) and Orlando Leyson, chief of CFARMC and representatives of the Lapu-Lapu police, and offices of City Health, City Planning and City Administration.
The firm is registered as an exporter engaged in processing seaweed and other marine products in the Philexport Cebu director, but neighbors said drying of shark fins was a new activity this year.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 earlier intervened in the seizure of a 20-foot container van of shark fins of Shell Haven that was intercepted last Aug. 23 on its way to the international port.
The agency said the firm had valid import documents and clearances from the BFAR central office to import “frozen shark fins” of “Blue Sharks” as a non-protected species.
The van was released by the Capitol’s anti-illegal fishing task force when BFAR permits were presented since the provincial ordinance was not yet amended.
The cargo of about 5,000 kilos of shark fins was exported to Hong Kong.
The Lapu-Lapu City Council working on a counterpart draft ordinance.
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