Post by admin on Jun 27, 2014 17:53:46 GMT 8
Shark meat trade thrives in Negros Oriental — BFAR
Judy Flores Partlow / The Freeman
June 27, 2014
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The selling of shark meat in Negros Oriental, particularly in the southern part of the province, has continued to thrive due to the absence of laws on trading of shark and shark products.
Florencia Nipania, provincial chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in a telephone interview Wednesday, admitted that their hands are currently tied and they could not take any legal action against those engaged in the shark trade.
Nipania was reacting to a report that shark meat was openly sold in a number of markets, especially in the southern towns of the province.
A photo uploaded Wednesday on Facebook by a foreign national showed that shark meat was being peddled at one of the stalls in the famous flea market in Barangay Malatapay of Zamboanguita town.
When told about it, Nipania ordered a BFAR technician to check on the report but she lamented that no arrests can be made as there were no violations whatsoever. She said BFAR can only continue with its information campaign and appeal to fishermen and other individuals against the trading of sharks. Eventually, if not regulated, these marine animals will slowly diminish in numbers, she admitted.
Nipania lamented that, when confronted, many claimed that sharks are usually caught by accident but nevertheless, fishermen insist on selling the meat, having knowledge themselves on the absence of regulations on shark trading.
Fisheries technicians are directed to tell these people to bury the sharks instead of selling their fins or meat in the market, but only a few have heeded the call of the BFAR, she said.
Nipania said only two or three species of sharks were deemed as either threatened or endangered by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. There are more than 200 shark species in the country and it is difficult for BFAR to identify the type of shark meat being sold in the market at any given time, she said.
Shark fisheries in Negros Oriental has not been officially documented, although it first caught wider public attention following media reports of a truck loaded with shark meat being apprehended while en route to Cebu City. Media reports further said thresher shark meat had originated from Siaton, Negros Oriental and was intended for delivery to Cebu City for fish balls.
Nipania appealed to LGUs to help BFAR in coming up with measures regulating the catching, possession and selling of sharks in Negros Oriental. (FREEMAN)
Source: www.philstar.com/region/2014/06/27/1339656/shark-meat-trade-thrives-negros-oriental-bfar
Judy Flores Partlow / The Freeman
June 27, 2014
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The selling of shark meat in Negros Oriental, particularly in the southern part of the province, has continued to thrive due to the absence of laws on trading of shark and shark products.
Florencia Nipania, provincial chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in a telephone interview Wednesday, admitted that their hands are currently tied and they could not take any legal action against those engaged in the shark trade.
Nipania was reacting to a report that shark meat was openly sold in a number of markets, especially in the southern towns of the province.
A photo uploaded Wednesday on Facebook by a foreign national showed that shark meat was being peddled at one of the stalls in the famous flea market in Barangay Malatapay of Zamboanguita town.
When told about it, Nipania ordered a BFAR technician to check on the report but she lamented that no arrests can be made as there were no violations whatsoever. She said BFAR can only continue with its information campaign and appeal to fishermen and other individuals against the trading of sharks. Eventually, if not regulated, these marine animals will slowly diminish in numbers, she admitted.
Nipania lamented that, when confronted, many claimed that sharks are usually caught by accident but nevertheless, fishermen insist on selling the meat, having knowledge themselves on the absence of regulations on shark trading.
Fisheries technicians are directed to tell these people to bury the sharks instead of selling their fins or meat in the market, but only a few have heeded the call of the BFAR, she said.
Nipania said only two or three species of sharks were deemed as either threatened or endangered by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. There are more than 200 shark species in the country and it is difficult for BFAR to identify the type of shark meat being sold in the market at any given time, she said.
Shark fisheries in Negros Oriental has not been officially documented, although it first caught wider public attention following media reports of a truck loaded with shark meat being apprehended while en route to Cebu City. Media reports further said thresher shark meat had originated from Siaton, Negros Oriental and was intended for delivery to Cebu City for fish balls.
Nipania appealed to LGUs to help BFAR in coming up with measures regulating the catching, possession and selling of sharks in Negros Oriental. (FREEMAN)
Source: www.philstar.com/region/2014/06/27/1339656/shark-meat-trade-thrives-negros-oriental-bfar