Env’t group raises alarm over coral poaching in Tayabas Bay

Corals illegally harvested from Tayabas Bay in Quezon province are sold for as low as P10 apiece. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

LUCENA CITY—The threat of coral poaching in Tayabas Bay has surfaced after the recent arrest of a fisherman who yielded 11 sacks of assorted corals harvested in this body of water in Quezon province, a local environmental group said.

“It seems that aside from unabated illegal fishing and other destructive fishing activities, coral reef poachers also threaten [the marine life of] Tayabas Bay,” said Zeny Bernal, Tanggol Kalikasan Southern Luzon program director.

Bernal said Mateo Taneo, 60, a fisherman from Barangay Dalahican here, was arrested by a team of personnel from the police’s maritime group and local Bantay Dagat (sea watch) on Oct. 20.

Quoting a police report, Bernal said authorities saw sacks containing corals, some of these pulverized, along a village road.

Taneo admitted that he owns the sacks of corals and he intends to sell these in Pasay City.

Bernal said Taneo was also nabbed for coral smuggling last year. She said Taneo was selling a piece of coral for P10.

“As a first time offender, the suspect was only fined P2,000 and was ordered to plant 2,000 mangroves as community service,” Bernal said.

A local fisherman, who spoke to the Inquirer on the condition that he would not be named, said some of them resort to coral poaching due to unfair competition from commercial fishers operating in the bay.

“Most often, our catch is only enough for the family table. Coral poaching is our recourse to avoid hunger,” the fisherman said.

Price of corals in the underground market varies depending on the size and form, the source said.

“Earning a few hundreds to a couple of thousands is easy in a single dive. There are always ready buyers,” he said.

Section 96 of Republic Act No. 10654 (Amended Philippine Fisheries Code) prohibits any person or corporation to “gather, possess, commercially transport, sell or export ordinary, semi-precious and precious corals, whether raw or in processed form, except for scientific or research purposes.”

It said it is “unlawful for any person, corporation or entity to commit any activity that damage coral reefs.”

Bernal said poaching happens because coral reefs are highly valued decorative materials among aquarium vendors and landscape artists.

The depletion of marine resources of Tayabas Bay covering parts of Quezon, Marinduque and Batangas provinces has long been the subject of concern among environmentalists and local governments.

Aside from coral reef poaching, large vessels of commercial fishers operate in the bay while dynamite fishing and other destructive methods are still rampant, local officials said.