ALERT operatives of the Bureau of Customs yesterday seized endangered marine turtles locally known as “pawikan”, sea fans and sea shells concealed in two container vans from Cotabato at the Eva Macapagal Domestic Terminal.

In his report to Customs Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez, Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. stated that the consignee, a certain Exequiel Navarro declared the illegal cargo as “Rubber.”

A joint inspection conducted by BOC and experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, however, revealed that the shipments contained Philippine sea turtles, long considered as endangered as well as sea fans belonging to the order “Antipatharia,” more commonly known as black corals .

Alvarez said trading of wildlife is prohibited under Republic Act No. 9147 while Republic Act No. 8550 penalizes any person or corporation to gather, possess, sell or export ordinary, precious and semiprecious corals whether in raw or processed form.

The commissioner also noted that the so-called “pawikan trade” and the illegal harvesting of black corals are being fueled by the demand of the multi-billion dollar marine ornamental industry for exotic decorative species and the increasing popularity of coral-accented jewelries and fashion accessories.

He added that in view of the prohibited nature of the cargo, the same will be automatically forfeited in favor of the government while proper coordination with BFAR is being made for the proper disposition of the seized articles.

According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), coral reefs are the most life-producing of all ecosystems on earth, harboring 25% of all marine species that include fish and invertebrates.  They deliver ecosystem services to fisheries, food security, employment, tourism, pharmaceutical research and coastline protection. 

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that the economic cost over a 25 year period of destroying one kilometer of coral reef is somewhere between $137,000 and $1,200,000.