BOC inventory: 158 sea turtles; corals, shells in the thousands

Manila, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported yesterday that it has completed its inventory of two shipping containers of endangered marine species that were seized Wednesday.

From an initial tally of 20 sea turtles, the BOC deputy commissioner Horacio Suansing said they counted a total of 158 specimens – 156 hawksbill turtles and two green turtles – in the final inventory.

There were also 21,395 pieces of seafan corals; 196 kilos of sea whip corals; 135 kilos of Lambis lambis shells and 7,010 pieces of different kinds of shells.

The joint inventory was done by representatives from the BOC and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Suansing said that they intend to turn over the seized corals and seashells to the BFAR while the sea turtles will be given to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) next week.

Suansing said that they have to follow procedure – before the items can be turned over to the BFAR and the DENR, it must first be recognized that they are under the custody of the BOC.

“I have requested that Port of Manila district collector Rogel Gatchalian to issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the cargo. The WSD might have been issued yesterday,” he added.

Corals and seashells can be used as décor, while sea turtle meat is valued as an aphrodisiac in other countries.