Shark fins left to dry found at Sitio Kasanta in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN V. MENDOZA)
The Lapu-Lapu City Council is crafting a measure that will impose a total ban on the use of meat from sharks, turtles, whales, and dolphins, whether or not they’re listed as endangered.
The local legislative measure is aimed at curbing the processing of shark meat which has made the city a target of marine conservationists.
Councilor Alexander Gestopa, chairman of the City Council committee on environment, has filed a proposed ordinance prohibiting any shark fins and meat processing, as well as the catching, selling, use and transport of other endangered marine species within the city.
Health hazard
The councilor added that Lapu-Lapu’s marine treasures are mostly the reason why tourists flock to the city, thus the need to protect these.
“We also want establishments not to pose health hazards to the residents,” he added.
The filing of the measure followed the passage on third and final reading of a proposed amendment to the Cebu provincial fisheries code to totally ban the trade of all shark species.
As Lapu-Lapu City is not a component city of the province is not covered by the local law.
Gestopa said the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) discussed this matter with him a month ago.
Mayor Paz Radaza also had a separate discussion with him on the issue last week following complaints by residents of a coastal community in barangay Mactan of the foul odor emitted by the drying of shark fins in their area.
Officials recognize that there are sharks, turtles, whales or dolphins that are not included in the endangered list yet.
But because the city has no means of identifying which ones are endangered, the ordinance, if approved, will impose a total ban on the use of “any and all” sharks, turtles, whales or dolphin meats, oil and other products.
In the proposed ordinance, Gestopa cited the existence of businesses in their city that use meats and other products from sharks, for the local market as well as for export.
The ban will cover the use of sharks, whales, turtles or dolphins or its meat products for personal or commercial use, such as in restaurants, canteens, carenderias and similar establishments.
The prohibition will also include its use as ingredients of processed food, condiments, spreads, snack items, medicinal products and the like.
Gestopa said the CFARMC and the mayor’s office will sit down with the City Council to discsuss the final draft of the proposed law in next week’s session.
“Hopefully, during the next session we can already schedule a public hearing.” Gestopa told CDN.
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