Posted on 10 August
2010
WWF Palawan Project Manager RJ dela Calzada
measures one of the 101 dead Hawksbill Turtles
in this image taken in August of 2008.
Puerto Princesa, Philippines - Two years
after their arrests, 13 Vietnamese poachers
caught with the corpses of 101 endangered
hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
near El Nido, northern Palawan, in the Philippines,
have been sentenced to jail time and fines.
On June 22, Puerto Princesa’s
Regional Trial Court, Branch 50, ruled that
the poachers should face jail time ranging
from six to 18 months, and fines in connection
with the incident.
Since the poachers have
been in jail since Sept. 2 2008, the court
also ruled that they now will only pay the
fines.
The Vietnamese boat
carrying the poachers was apprehended by
two Filipino gunboats five miles east of
Cabaluan Island near El Nido on Aug. 29,
2008. The 13-man crew attempted to scuttle
the craft by flooding the holds, which was
prevented by law enforcement officers. Found
drowned in the vessel’s cargo holds were
101 Hawksbill Turtles, classified by the
International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) as critically-endangered -
the highest risk rating for a living animal.
Under Philippine and
international law, it is illegal to capture
and kill sea turtles and to trade in sea
turtle by-products.
The presence of sea
turtles preserves the sea’s natural processes.
Green Sea Turtles, continually browse on
sea grass, which then is naturally pruned
to grow denser, allowing the plants to spread
more rapidly on the sea floor. Thousands
of species of fish and invertebrates seek
shelter within these submerged meadows,
which also serve to store excess atmospheric
carbon dioxide to slow down global warming.
In addition, Hawksbill Turtles eat stinging
jellyfish, preventing climate-induced blooms
which would negatively affect tourism.
WWF commended Puerto
Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 50
for upholding the law and punishing the
poachers.
WWF-Philippines Palawan
Project Manager RJ dela Calzada, who also
serves as an Auxiliary Commander for the
Philippine Coast Guard, said: “Let this
serve as a precedent for future cases, and
as a strong warning to all those who continue
to encroach upon Philippine waters to plunder
our dwindling marine resources.” WWF also
congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
the Local Government of El Nido and the
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
for overseeing the case.
In the last decade more
than a thousand foreigners have been arrested
and charged for poaching in the waters of
Palawan. Sentences historically have been
rare, under fear of damaging international
relations with neighboring countries.
Other incidents included:
In September 2007, 126 endangered green
sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 10,000
turtle eggs were found aboard Chinese fishing
vessel F/V 01087 in Sulu. In April 2008,
a 23-man Vietnamese poaching detail aboard
the M/V Quang Mei was arrested in Balabac,
Southern Palawan. Retrieved from the craft
were assorted fish and a sea turtle. In
July 2008, four Vietnamese aboard F/V Q.ng
95986 were arrested for alleged poaching
off Guntao Isle, El Nido. Four other fishing
boats, believed to be Vietnamese, escaped.
In April 2009, seven
Chinese poachers aboard an unmarked speedboat
were arrested near Cauayan Isle in El Nido.
Thirteen dead and one still-living green
sea turtle greeted authorities. It was quickly
tagged and released.
Says WWF-Philippines
Vice-Chair and CEO Lory Tan: “This is a
good example of enforcement meted out to
a logical and just end. Laws are enacted
to create that level playing field designed
to protect the public and serve the greater
good. There can be no exceptions. Whether
Vietnamese, Chinese or Filipino - environmental
criminals must be held fully accountable
for destroying the legacy we all hope to
leave behind for future generations."