Tougher anti-poaching bill nears House approval

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a five-fold increase of penalties against unlawful purchase, catching, selling, possession, transport and export of rare, threatened and endangered wild marine species, Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr said Sunday. "We have to protect our marine resources, especially those listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)," he said, noting that many marine species of the Philippines are in the CITES list. Nograles credited the authors and the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources chaired by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Maranon III for the immediate passage of House Bill 4250, a substitute bill amending Section 91 and 97 of Republic Act No.8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. Maranon and the other principal authors of HB 4250 -- Reps. Roberto Cajes, Luis Villafuerte and Pryde Henry Teves – pointed out that the measure, while protecting the nation's wild marine species from extinction through overexploitation, would open commercial opportunities for artificially cultured and/or propagated species like giant clams, seahorse and some corals. "This Act provides for the differentiation between artificially propagated or cultured stocks from those in the wild," Maranon and Villafuerte said. Cajes and Teves said the measure would open up investment opportunities in the sector, thus giving a boost to the 'live marine fish' industry, increase export earnings and provide livelihood to marginal fisherfolks. In support of CITES, the amendment proposes an increase fines from P100,000 to P500,000 and their corresponding penal terms. Likewise, the measure also provides for the development of a fisheries resource management plan to include conservation and rehabilitation of CITES-listed species. - GMANews.TV