CEBU – Local authorities have seized some 200 sacks of sea shells from a warehouse in Talisay City in the central Philippine province of Cebu, officials said Friday.
Officials said members of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force led by Loy Anthony Madrigal seized the shells in the village of San Roque in Talisay City following two days of surveillance operation in the area.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it would examine the shells after officials found giant clams (Tridacna gigas) among the seized shells.
The giant clam, largest living bivalve mollusk, is one of the most endangered clam species and is included in the list of Protected Philippine Aquatic Wildlife.
Most of the shells seized by Madrigal’s group were old and broken. A lawyer of the owner of the warehouse questioned the legality of the seizure of the shells, saying, authorities had not presented a search warrant. (Cebu Examiner)
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