Seahorses seized from 8 fishermen in Manapla

Seahorses are considered as endangered species by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). In the Philippines, catching, gathering, selling, purchase, possession, transport, export, or shipping out of aquatic species listed in CITES’ Appendix I is prohibited under Republic Act 10654. CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. SHUTTERSTOCK

BACOLOD City – Eight fishermen were arrested after police recovered from them seahorses in the municipal waters of Manapla, Negros Occidental.

A total of 41 seahorses were confiscated from the fishermen, who were on board two unmarked motorboats around 5:52 a.m. on Thursday, according to Inspector Christopher Garde, team leader of Task Force Lawod of the Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC).

Among the arrested were the 34-year-old boat captain Wilmer Pasigna and his crew identified as Vicente Albarico, 40, Arwen Morano, 27, and Jovanie Pilapil, 31 – all residents of Barangay Molocaboc, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

The owner of the boat Pasigna and his crew were riding was Adela Pidalan of Barangay Punta Salong, Manapla, police said.

Also arrested was another boat captain, 26-year-old Frederick Serapino, also a resident of Barangay Punta Salong.

Among Serapino’s crew were the 61-year-old Rodrigo Mallorca, 31-year-old Reynaldo Lagnaso and 37-year-old Mammer Pillipas – residents of Barangay 2-A in Manapla.

Aside from the seahorses, police also confiscated wooden fins, hoses, face masks, and the two boats from the fishermen.

The fishermen were detained at the Manapla police station lockup facility and facing charges for violation of Section 102 of Republic Act (RA) 10654, an act that amended RA 8550, or The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

Joint elements of the NOCPMFC, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, and Provincial Environment Management Office staged the seaborne operation./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here