BACOLOD CITY鈥擳he Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has intercepted more than 15 kilos of dried seahorses worth P460,000 at the Banago Port in Bacolod City past 11 a.m. on Friday (March 26).
Capt. Ludovico Librilla, PCG Negros Occidental commander, said the shipment was bound for Iloilo City and was already aboard the MV FastCat M3 when it was intercepted.
Librilla said a member of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group informed the PCG about the shipment of illegal fishery products.
The PCG searched packages on the vessel and a saw box with two seahorses protruding.
Librilla said the PCG coordinated with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to inspect the contents of the shipment.
The seahorses were wrapped in garbage and plastic bags that were labeled with their prices.
The confiscated items have been turned over to the custody of the BFAR.
Initial investigation showed that the package was delivered for shipment by an unidentified individual.
Under the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, transporting, taking, and selling of rare, threatened and endangered fishery products is prohibited.
Violators could face a fine of P300,000 to P5 million or face imprisonment for three to five years.
鈥淎n investigation is underway to determine the origin of the seahorses and sender of 聽the package,鈥� Librilla said.