MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / May 10, 2014) – The Philippines filed charges against 11 Chinese poachers who were intercepted off the Hasa-Hasa Shoal also known as Half Moon Shoal near Palawan province.
The Chinese fishermen, who were arrested May 6, are facing charges for violating the Philippine Fisheries Law. Filipino authorities recovered more than 350 live and dried turtles from the Chinese boat when it was intercepted.
The Chinese skipper, Chen Hi Quan, is also to pay Manila at least $100,000 in fines and he and his crew maybe imprisoned for up to 20 years for catching rare and threatened and endangered species such as the green turtles found in their boat.
The seized Chinese boat had 120 live and 234 dead turtles on board, police said.
The poachers pierced the eyes of the turtles and tied them through their eye sockets to prevent the marine creatures from escaping.
Beijing has protested the arrest of the poachers and insisted the fishermen were well within the Chinese territory – Banyue Reef – its name for the Hasa-Hasa Shoal. (Mindanao Examiner)
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