The Maritime Police in southern Negros Occidental seized 7,000 kilos of endangered fossilized and fresh clams, locally known as Taclobo, in Sitio Ondol Pasil, Brgy. Cayhagan Sipalay City, Tuesday, October 26.
Seized were P490,000 worth of Taclobos identified as endangered species in clear violation of Section 102 of Republic Act 10654 that bans the fishing and taking of rare, threatened or endangered species, a report from PMaj. Don Archie Suspeñe, Fourth SOU PNP Maritime Group officer-in-charge, said.
At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, they received a report from a concerned citizen that giant clams were being collected in Barangay Cayhagan.
On arriving in the area the Maritime Police team saw in plain view the assorted fossilized and fresh clams.
Two suspects and the confiscated clams were brought to the Fourth SOU PNP Maritime Group headquarters in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, for documentation and proper disposition prior to the filing of criminal/administrative charges in violation of R.A 10654, Suspeñe said.
Dave Albao, Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation executive director, said endangered clams have been disappearing from the waters of southern Negros.
In February, clams were also intercepted in Bayawan, Negros Oriental, believed to have been harvested from south Negros, he added.*