Law vs shark fishing sought

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda called yesterday for the immediate approval of the bill imposing a ban on catching sharks in the country’s waters.

“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. As such, our country plays a crucial role in protecting marine species,” she said.

Legarda made the call after police seized a truckload of shark meat headed for a fish ball processor in Lapu-Lapu City last month. The truck contained at least 467 kilograms of thresher shark meat, according to news reports.

She said that the absence of a law prohibiting the catching of sharks emboldens people to continue the practice, which could lead to the extinction of shark species in the country.

“Sharks are in danger of becoming extinct if we do not proactively protect them, considering that they reproduce slowly. The decline of their population could also endanger the entire marine ecosystem,” she said.

Legarda has filed Senate Bill 536 declaring as illegal the catching, sale, purchase, possession, transportation, importation and exportation of all shark and ray species in the country.