1,650 kilos of shark meat intercepted in Philippines
By Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Michael H. Braga/JMO
20 June 2014 CEBU, Philippines (The Freeman) – A multicab loaded with 1,650 kilos of assorted sliced shark meat and whale shark meat was intercepted by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Task Force Kalikasan in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City late afternoon yesterday. Initial investigation revealed that the shark meat came from Barangay Marigondon, also in Lapu-Lapu City, and was in transit to Barangay Pasil in Cebu City when intercepted around 5:30 p.m. It appeared that the meat was made to dry, said officer Brando Marana of the Lapu-Lapu City police. The meat was placed in several sacks, including the fins, which are reportedly good for soup. Arrested during the operation were driver Federico Cabido, 48, a resident of Barangay Pasil and his companion, Adonis Dolores, 21. They are detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office. Cabido reportedly owns the Mazda multicab with plate number 070902 and he was reportedly hired by a man referred to as “Pandak”. Just last week, almost 500 kilos of thresher shark meat on board an Isuzu Elf Truck as intercepted in Naga City. The truck with plate number YKC-424 reportedly belongs to Tirso’s Fish Food Product in Lapu-Lapu City. Yesterday, representatives of two factories allegedly using shark meat as ingredient for fish ball and tempura assured to refrain from importing and using shark meat in their products. Sea World operates in Consolacion town while Sea Master operates in Cebu City. Loy Anthony Madrigal, head of the provincial government’s Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force, said they are glad of the two companies’ cooperation but the task force will continue to monitor their operations. “Maau nang ingon ana gud kay sa panahon nga mo-inspect mi, unya madakpan sila, di na sila moingon nga wa sila kabalo sa ordinance kay mi-commit na man sila,” he said. [“I think that is good for when we inspect, then arrest them, they say that they know the ordinance had committed to them.” – Google translate] [more]
New batch of shark meat intercepted via Sea Shepherd Seattle
I wonder what happens to the meat that is seized. Each time illegal produce is seized it is -as a rule- destroyed. Now, if the earth's resources taken together are a "zero-sum" game, we should actually use any protein source, illegal or not. The sharks are all dead, so destroying their meat is doing no one any good. At the same time of course it cannot be put on the regular market. Which leads me to the conclusion that you really need to give such stuff to the poor or homeless, i.e. those who would otherwise maybe have gone without (or much worse) food for the day!