Thresher shark. YouTube screengrab
CEBU CITY–Members of the Cebu Provincial Government’s Task Force Kalikasan intercepted a truckload of dried Thresher shark fins near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Lapu-Lapu City about noon on Saturday.
At least 5,000 kilos of shark fins were placed inside a 20-foot container van on the trailer truck that was heading to the Cebu International Ports in Cebu City.
The shark fins were supposedly for shipment to Hong Kong, said Loy Madrigal, task force head.
Madrigal said that while truck driver Marlon Obasa was able to present shipment papers, harvesting of shark fins is prohibited in Cebu which has an ordinance that bans the capture, slaughter and sale of Thresher sharks and other endangered marine animals.
Madrigal said he suspected that the shark fins came from Zamboanga and were shipped to Cebu through Lapu Lapu City.