MANILA: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Zamboanga is investigating the shipper and consignee of four sacks of dried shark fins that were recently discovered on a cargo ship as it passed through the Zamboanga port.
PCG Zamboanga station head Lt Jomark Angue said the shipper was identified as Dennis Atillo while the consignee is Richard Jose from Manila. He said it is possible the names are fictitious.
The five-tonne dried shark fins, estimated to be worth P400,000, were seized for violation of the law that bans the catching, sale, purchase, importation and exportation of sharks and rays. The cargo was misdeclared as assorted items.
“When we confiscated them the sacks were sealed so the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is determining from what species of shark were the fins taken,” said Angue. The 5,404 gross tonne M/V Span Asia 1 left Dadiangas, General Santos City on July 24 and passed by Cotatabo and Zamboanga. Manila was its final destination.
Shark fin soup is a highly priced and much sought after Chinese delicacy.
The Philippine star
