Law vs catching of sharks pushed

MANILA, Philippines - If Sen. Loren Legarda will have her way, she wants shark catching and finning punishable by law.

Legarda yesterday called for the passage of a proposed measure prohibiting the catching of sharks, saying the absence of such law could lead to the extinction of the species.

The senator cited a recent news report showing fishermen engaged in the act of shark finning. But the fishermen go scot-free as there is no law prohibiting such act.

 The practice of shark finning involves the removal of the fin, which can be sold between P600 and P3,000 per kilo. Afterwards, the finless shark is thrown back into the sea with its life already in danger as it could no longer move normally.

“Clearly, the absence of a law forbidding the catching of sharks gives people the courage to continue the practice, which could eventually lead to the extinction of shark species in the country, especially that they reproduce slowly,” Legarda said.

She also cited the statement of the conservation group Shark Savers that the shark population is declining by as much as 90 percent because at least 100 million sharks are killed every year.

Legarda said this concern could be addressed with the enactment into law of Senate Bill 2616, which seeks to banning the catching, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, importation and export of all sharks and rays or any parts of these animals.            

The bill proposes to declare unlawful the wounding or killing of sharks and rays, unless there is threat to human life or safety.

The shark’s fin soup and the selling of shark’s fin will also be prohibited to eliminate the demand that results in the massive killing of sharks.

“Sharks, as predators of the sea, play a vital role in regulating the ecological balance, particularly the health of important commercial fish species, population balance, and protection of coral reefs. Being a country with about two-thirds of the known marine species of the Pacific living in its coastal waters, the Philippines plays a crucial role in protecting marine species,” Legarda said.