Task force nets corals, lumber

CEBU, Philippines - At least 600 pieces of assorted corals and lumber were confiscated by Lapu-Lapu City's Task Force Kalikasan Thursday evening in Sitio Malingin, Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

Police Officer 3 Kent Lisen of TFK said a concerned citizen called and informed them about the illegal transporting of reported consignment.

When the team went to the area, they recovered two pieces of lumber believed to be used for boat keel, six pieces of 2"x6"x16" of lumber and assorted corals.

No suspect was identified, according to Lisen.

The confiscated items were temporarily turned over to the TFK office and will be forwarded to City Environment and Natural Resources Office for proper disposition.

As this developed, the Coastal and Marine Management Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources advised local government units to strengthen their monitoring against the illegal harvesting of corals in the seawater.

CMMD said towns and other areas, especially those with marine protected areas, should be keen against illegal fishers. Though they have Bantay Dagat members, CMMD said they should do preventive measures.

The corals confiscated in Lapu-Lapu City were classified as breaching corals which are Acropora species and are considered as endangered. These are also habitats of fishes.

"Corals are not resources like fish nga pwedeng kuhaon but these are stones nga di pwede kuhaon kay once mahaw-as sa dagat mamatay gyud dayun na," said a CMMD personnel.

Branching corals extract glands that could harden its branches. These would grow a few millimeters only in a year.

CMMD said those who were arrested clearly violated the RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. —  Christell Fatima M. Tudtud and Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMD (FREEMAN)