CEBU CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Visayas (DA-BFAR Region 7) valued the live corals seized at Hagnaya Port in San Remigio, Cebu last June 13 at P7.2-million.
The DA-BFAR Region 7 said 1,210 pieces of live corals, mostly doughnut corals, were seized.
Personnel of a local Coast Guard sub-station found the corals in five boxes that were abandoned at the port.
The items were declared as tropical fish when it was shipped from Cawayan, Masbate.
BFAR Region 7 Regional Director Dr. Allan Poquita cautioned the public from collecting and trading corals since these protect the coastlines from natural calamities such as tropical cyclones or erosion.
To help curb the illegal trading of corals, Poquita urged the public not to patronize people selling corals as home decorations or souvenirs.
Poquita commended the Philippine Coast Guard for supporting the agency’s efforts in strengthening the fishery law enforcement in the region.