TO ESTABLISH the entire Cebu island as a shark-friendly destination, the Cebu City government is drafting an ordinance that would protect one of the “most misunderstood” sea creatures.
Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, chair of the committee on environment, said her office is drafting an ordinance that prohibits the trade and consumption of sharks within Cebu City.
The proposed ordinance will be submitted to the council for first reading next week, Cabrera said.
Cebu province already has an ordinance banning the catching and trading of all species of sharks and rays.
A similar measure has been approved by Lapu-Lapu city.
Early this week, a photo of juvenile sharks sold in Carbon market was posted on Facebook by TV talk show host Mike Lopez.
Marine advocates have urged the city government to protect sharks, which are being sold in Carbon and Pasil —two of the biggest public markets in the city.
While there is still no ordinance in place, Cabrera said the Cebu City Bantay Dagat will have to strictly require fish vendors, who may be transporting sharks, to present appropriate transport permits.
Lack of a permit will allow the city to confiscate the sharks.
“BFAR has advised us to reduce the sale of sharks for market denial.
If there are sharks found, we will require a permit to transport. If there’s no permit, the city will confiscate it and it will be turned over to BFAR,” Cabrera said.
City Markets Administrator Raquel Arce said the shark vendors in Carbon in the recent report have been identified.
She said she will monitor the public markets to prevent similar incidents of shark sale.
Educating the vendors is also a key to stop the sale of endangered and threatened species, she said.