Update Chinese Fishing Vessel Arrested in Tubbataha
December 27, 2006
(1) The BFAR vessel, MCS 3002, leaves Puerto Princesa this evening beneath an overcast sky, heavy seas and a strong northeast wind. It is expected to reach the ranger station at Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park sometime in the early morning hours. The greater part of December 28 will be spent doing a properly documented inventory of all the fish on board. Pursuant to an order given by Director Malcolm Sarmiento, all protected and endangered species will be released at the Park itself. After the legal requirements of the inventory and disposal are met, the BFAR vessel will escort the Chinese fishing boat, Hoi Wan, back to Puerto Princesa so charges can be filed. The two vessels are expected back in Puerto Princesa early morning of the 29th. An ABS-CBN TV crew led by Abner Mercado is on board, along with Rowel Caralipio, station manager of DYPR.
(2) Throughout the day, while a legal team from government and NGOs in Palawan have been busy working to prepare for the filing of charges against the crew of Hoi Wan, company representatives from South Pacific Inter-marketing, the operators of the vessel, have been making the rounds of Puerto Princesa radio stations. The city is abuzz over this latest illegal fishing incident. Charges against the owner, managers, captain and crew of Hoi Wan will be filed on December 29, in Puerto Princesa.
(3) A Diplomatic Protest from the People of Palawan to the Peoples Republic of China will be released tomorrow morning. Signed by leaders of Palawan, from the government, NGOs and the church, the document urges the PROC to take steps to stop these numerous incursions into Philippine seas, and to recognize that, unlike the hundreds of millions of law-abiding citizens of China, these illegal fishermen openly violate national laws and international treaties. Bringing nothing but embarrassment and diplomatic tensions for the Chinese government, environmental criminals from China should be made to face the bar of justice.
(4) Contrary to the rough early estimates made by Tubbataha rangers, a document inadvertently provided by South Pacific Inter-marketing to the legal team, shows that close to 1600, and not merely 800, live fish were in the holds of Hoi Wan when it was apprehended in Tubbataha Reef. More than 1200 of those were napoleon wrasse a species protected internationally under the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
List of Chinese Incursions into Tubbataha Reef
1997 to 2006
Lory Tan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In February 1997, the F/B Royal Jason, a tuna long liner from Taiwan was boarded by Rangers while at the North Islet.
In early 1999, the F/B Panda from Taiwan was arrested. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
In July 1999, another vessel from the PROC was arrested and charged. It was released after payment of P100,000 in fines & other charges levied by different agencies.
In November 2000, the F/B Royal GRE, a tuna long liner from Taiwan was arrested at the North Islet. The case, filed by Fiscal Senson on Dec 1, 2000 for poaching at RTC Br 52, was dismissed on Feb 16, 2001. Reason: Vessel used was of Philippine registry. Administrative fines of P50,000 and P15,000 to BID paid.
In January 2002, 4 Chinese fishing vessels from Hainan, were arrested at the North Islet with cyanide and fish nets on board. A 5th vessel was apprehended in Cagayancillo and another vessel was arrested in Balabac. Cases for poaching (Sec 87) filed with RTC Br. 50 & 52 against the crew of 4 vessels. Other cases included: Use of explosives (Sec 88), taking rare and endangered species (Sec 97). Arraignment and pre-trial held Sept 27, 2002. They pleaded guilty to poaching, the 2nd case was dismissed and the 3rd case was bargained to Sec 91, i.e., ban on coral exploitation and exportation. Order for release issued Oct 2, 2002. Chinese poachers released on Oct 4, 2002 after payment of P2,000 each in fines and US$50,000 for all 6 vessels charged.
Many more Chinese vessels were arrested while operating illegally in Palawan waters, in areas outside Tubbataha. Almost 600 Chinese have been arrested fishing illegally in Palawan seas over the last nine years.
And now, we have the Hoi Wan with its cargo of close to 1600 live fish many of them endangered and protected by law. How much damage has been caused by this decade of illegal activity? How long will it take to repair? How long will it take to replace the turtles, the napoleon wrasses, the groupers, the giant clams, the coral until our fisheries become productive again? What is the economic fallout to the fishermen of Palawan? With the loss of their single, major protein source, how can the children of Palawan recover from malnutrition? How much have these criminals paid for these actions? What is the price of goodwill?
December 27, 2006
(1) The BFAR vessel, MCS 3002, leaves Puerto Princesa this evening beneath an overcast sky, heavy seas and a strong northeast wind. It is expected to reach the ranger station at Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park sometime in the early morning hours. The greater part of December 28 will be spent doing a properly documented inventory of all the fish on board. Pursuant to an order given by Director Malcolm Sarmiento, all protected and endangered species will be released at the Park itself. After the legal requirements of the inventory and disposal are met, the BFAR vessel will escort the Chinese fishing boat, Hoi Wan, back to Puerto Princesa so charges can be filed. The two vessels are expected back in Puerto Princesa early morning of the 29th. An ABS-CBN TV crew led by Abner Mercado is on board, along with Rowel Caralipio, station manager of DYPR.
(2) Throughout the day, while a legal team from government and NGOs in Palawan have been busy working to prepare for the filing of charges against the crew of Hoi Wan, company representatives from South Pacific Inter-marketing, the operators of the vessel, have been making the rounds of Puerto Princesa radio stations. The city is abuzz over this latest illegal fishing incident. Charges against the owner, managers, captain and crew of Hoi Wan will be filed on December 29, in Puerto Princesa.
(3) A Diplomatic Protest from the People of Palawan to the Peoples Republic of China will be released tomorrow morning. Signed by leaders of Palawan, from the government, NGOs and the church, the document urges the PROC to take steps to stop these numerous incursions into Philippine seas, and to recognize that, unlike the hundreds of millions of law-abiding citizens of China, these illegal fishermen openly violate national laws and international treaties. Bringing nothing but embarrassment and diplomatic tensions for the Chinese government, environmental criminals from China should be made to face the bar of justice.
(4) Contrary to the rough early estimates made by Tubbataha rangers, a document inadvertently provided by South Pacific Inter-marketing to the legal team, shows that close to 1600, and not merely 800, live fish were in the holds of Hoi Wan when it was apprehended in Tubbataha Reef. More than 1200 of those were napoleon wrasse a species protected internationally under the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
List of Chinese Incursions into Tubbataha Reef
1997 to 2006
Lory Tan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In February 1997, the F/B Royal Jason, a tuna long liner from Taiwan was boarded by Rangers while at the North Islet.
In early 1999, the F/B Panda from Taiwan was arrested. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
In July 1999, another vessel from the PROC was arrested and charged. It was released after payment of P100,000 in fines & other charges levied by different agencies.
In November 2000, the F/B Royal GRE, a tuna long liner from Taiwan was arrested at the North Islet. The case, filed by Fiscal Senson on Dec 1, 2000 for poaching at RTC Br 52, was dismissed on Feb 16, 2001. Reason: Vessel used was of Philippine registry. Administrative fines of P50,000 and P15,000 to BID paid.
In January 2002, 4 Chinese fishing vessels from Hainan, were arrested at the North Islet with cyanide and fish nets on board. A 5th vessel was apprehended in Cagayancillo and another vessel was arrested in Balabac. Cases for poaching (Sec 87) filed with RTC Br. 50 & 52 against the crew of 4 vessels. Other cases included: Use of explosives (Sec 88), taking rare and endangered species (Sec 97). Arraignment and pre-trial held Sept 27, 2002. They pleaded guilty to poaching, the 2nd case was dismissed and the 3rd case was bargained to Sec 91, i.e., ban on coral exploitation and exportation. Order for release issued Oct 2, 2002. Chinese poachers released on Oct 4, 2002 after payment of P2,000 each in fines and US$50,000 for all 6 vessels charged.
Many more Chinese vessels were arrested while operating illegally in Palawan waters, in areas outside Tubbataha. Almost 600 Chinese have been arrested fishing illegally in Palawan seas over the last nine years.
And now, we have the Hoi Wan with its cargo of close to 1600 live fish many of them endangered and protected by law. How much damage has been caused by this decade of illegal activity? How long will it take to repair? How long will it take to replace the turtles, the napoleon wrasses, the groupers, the giant clams, the coral until our fisheries become productive again? What is the economic fallout to the fishermen of Palawan? With the loss of their single, major protein source, how can the children of Palawan recover from malnutrition? How much have these criminals paid for these actions? What is the price of goodwill?
