BFAR Urges Public: report seahorse harvesting

Following the confiscation of dried seahorses in Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 head Andres Bojos urged the public to help their office in monitoring this trade.

Bojos admitted that despite the existence of Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which makes it illegal for anyone to harvest and sell any endangered and threatened species like the seahorses, there are still confirmed reports that the seahorses are being fished out from the seas.

Proof of which is the seizure of a few kilos of dried seahorses in MCIA, Bojos he said. And since BFAR is but one organization and under it are several coastal localities, Bojos said it is important that they also get the help of the residents and the local leaders. He asked that any information of seahorse fishing should be reported to them right away.

The Project Seahorse Foundation, based in Bohol and Cebu, has reported that the seahorse population is declining after local fishers learned of this species’ value. The dried seahorse is sold for P50-P70 per piece or P14,000 per kilo in the black market.

The seahorse is said to be used in various Chinese herbal medicine sold not only in the country but all over the world.