PUERTO GALERA, Philippines (7 Feb 2002) -- Authorities vowed to "push to the limits" the filing of charges against 95 Chinese nationals arrested for illegally poaching protected sea life in the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park last week. Authorities found 25 dinghies made of fiberglass, 50 sea turtles, shark meat, a roll of fuse for explosives, blasting caps, chemicals, 10 fan corals, 10 sacks of dried sea cucumber, about 400 kilos of dried clam meat (Tridacna gigas) and 13 live mameng, a rare fish species. The sea turtles and giant clams found in the holds of the vessels are also covered by the international CITES Agreement, which bans the possession and trade of listed endangered and threatened species. Inquest proceedings were held Sunday to immediately lodge cases of illegal entry, poaching and violation of the Philippine Wildlife Act and the Fisheries Code against the Chinese. The offenders from four "mother ships" were caught by a Philippine Navy gunboat fishing just a few miles off the Tubbataha Reef ranger station in Cagayancillo, Palawan. The captured vessels came from Hainan, China, and had complete navigational facilities, including radar for locating fish and single-side band radio. Other pieces of evidence were reportedly thrown into the water while the Chinese were being pursued. The Coast Guard also found four maps of Palawan in Chinese characters. According to PCSDS lawyer Adelle Villena, the maps could prove that the Chinese intended to enter Palawan waters illegally. Tubbataha Reef and other areas with rich marine resources were marked on the maps. The Tubbataha reef complex, at the center of the Sulu Sea, is one of the world's richest and most diverse marine ecosystems. The 33,200-hectare marine park harbors at least 300 coral species, 8 species of marine mammals, 380 species of fish, 7 species of seagrass, and 71 species of marine algae. | | In 1988, it was declared the Philippine's first National Marine Park. Because of its globally significant biodiversity, UNESCO declared Tubbataha as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1993. It is one of the world's last remaining marine wilderness areas, and is also one of the world's top diving destinations. Scientific research has also suggested that Tubbataha may be a major source of coral and fish larvae that populate the reefs of the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas. Fish and invertebrate larvae coming from the reefs support the marine life on the coral reefs of mainland Palawan and nearby islands. "It is ironic that these foreigners come in and poach sea turtles, just when our own local fishermen have learned not to hunt sea turtles," says WWF-Philippines Species Director Joel Palma. According to Lory Tan, president of WWF-Philippines, "China is one of our best trading partners and one of our worst threats. The world of WTO must be founded on respect for each other. If the Chinese continue to openly poach in Philippine waters, break our laws and get away with it, and with the help of our own government officials, free trade will never work. And the environment will pay the price." Major General Manuel Carranza, head of the Provincial Committee on Illegal Entrants (PCIE), reported that the local authorities are determined to file charges against the Chinese poachers. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
