MARCH 20, 2012 DATE

NR # 2684
REF. NO.

Bill to ban catching, selling, exporting and importing of sharks & rays snowballs
A lawmaker wants to criminalize the act of catching, selling and importing of sharks and stingrays in the country. Rep. Rex Gatchalian (2nd District, Pampanga) filed House Bill 5880 making it unlawful for any person or corporation to catch sharks and stingrays in Philippine waters or to sell, purchase, possess, transport and export these endangered species. Gatchalian said the measure also makes it unlawful to wound or kill sharks and rays, unless there is a threat to human life and limb, even in the course of catching other species of fish. In case a shark or a sting ray accidentally gets included in the catch, it should be immediately released unharmed, Gatchalian said. Gatchalian said although sharks and sting rays have not been officially declared endangered, their population has drastically declined over the years not only because of environmental degradation but also due to overfishing for human consumption. Shark Savers, a conservation group, said millions of sharks are killed annually, which has resulted in a 90 percent decline in the shark population. Gatchalian said the government should recognize the significant role of sharks and rays in promoting the ecological balance and protection of coral reefs. The bill provides stiffer penalties for any person who undertakes illegal acts such as selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting, exporting and importing the said species. Under the bill, violators face penalties of one to six years imprisonment and fine ranging from P5,000 to P500,000 or both. The bill mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to issue the necessary orders to list all sharks and rays as endangered species. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Council for Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) shall coordinate with the DENR, BFAR and the Local Government Units (LGUs) to identify the habitats and feeding grounds of sharks and rays and declare the same as protected tourism estates and shall be promoted for restorative ecotourism. Earlier, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (1st District, Pampanga) and her son, Rep. Diosdado M. Arroyo (1st District, Camarines Sur), authored House Bill 174 to ban selling and serving of soup and all menus with shark and sting ray by-products. (30)
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