Slaughter of turtles on Batanes island continues

BASCO, Batanes – The slaughter of marine turtles on the country’s northernmost island remains unabated, as foreign fishermen freely roam the uninhabited place.

In a visit to Y’Ami Island last weekend with a group of fishermen led by Robert Gabas, this reporter saw carcasses of turtles, some of them freshly slaughtered.

Y’Ami is closer to Taiwan than to this capital town.

Last summer, this reporter saw at least a hundred turtle carcasses during a visit to the island.

It is unknown though if local or foreign fishermen were behind the slaughter.

The STAR, however, gathered from residents here that some unscrupulous fishermen slaughter turtles for their meat, which they sell.

Last Sunday night, as this reporter’s group sought shelter in the cove of Mabudis Island, at least 15 foreign fishing boats were in the vicinity. The vessels left the following morning.

Local authorities have been helpless in enforcing maritime and fishing laws. Foreign poachers, especially Taiwanese, freely fish in the waters of Batanes, sometimes even reaching Cagayan province.

Aside from these poachers, foreign vessels usually stop by the islands and unload rice, bunker fuel, fruits and other goods.