Lawmaker seeks higher fines against marine poachers

 News
Oct 302013
 

A lawmaker has proposed an increase in penalties to help curb the illegal trade and exploitation of corals and other marine species in the country.

Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar has filed House Bill 2819 which seeks to amend the Philippine Fisheries Code and impose heavier fines of from P100,000 to P500,000 on those caught participating in the illegal marine trade.

He said the current law, which imposes imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine ranging from P2,000 to P20,000 for gathering, possessing, selling, and exporting corals for profit, is too lenient.

“We must act now to protect the country’s precious corals and other marine wealth before they are lost forever,” Villar said.

The bill also prohibits the gathering of endangered species as well as the export of cultured or artificially-propagated species that have been transplanted from their natural habitat without government approval.

“The taking, catching, gathering, possession or trade of artificially propagated and cultured species listed in the CITES, IUCN and RA 9147 may be allowed subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture,” Villar said.

The proposed ban covers species listed in the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, the Wildlife Act, and in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Endangered Species. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JDS, GMA News

$10M worth of smuggled elephant tusks destroyed

 News
Jun 212013
 
$10M worth of smuggled elephant tusks destroyed

By DJ YapPhilippine Daily Inquirer 1:47 am | Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 CRUSHED At least 5 tons of smuggled elephant tusks worth an estimated $10 million are destroyed by a road roller in support of a global effort to stop the illegal ivory trade. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ MANILA, Philippines—Environment officials on Friday led the crushing of some five tons of smuggled elephant tusks worth an estimated $10 million in a symbolic move to show the seriousness of the Philippine campaign to stop the “blood ivory” trade. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday destroyed the confiscated ivory using a road roller at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. The shattered parts were to be incinerated at a government animal crematorium, officials said. The destruction of the stockpile would also eliminate any opportunity for corrupt officials to resell the ivory. “This act is a strong statement to the rest of the world that the Philippines is serious and will not tolerate illegal wildlife trade,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje told a crowd of foreign dignitaries, wildlife campaigners and local and international media. Ivory can fetch from $1,000 to $2,000 per kilogram on the black market and more than $50,000 for an entire tusk, according to reports. Bonaventure Ebayi, chair of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, an intergovernmental body on illegal wildlife trade based in Nairobi, Kenya, said the Philippine government’s action was a model that ought to be replicated in other parts of Asia. The US Read More …