Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer 28 Jul 08;
LUCENA CITY—The good news is that the presence of the endangered fish species Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulates sp.) popularly known as “mameng,” has been confirmed in the seas off Polillo Islands in Quezon.
The bad news: This rare fish is now being caught by illegal fishers.
Glenn Forbes, marine program officer of Tanggol Kalikasan (Defend the Environment), said the Quezon police maritime group based in Real, Quezon, recovered 11 “mameng” weighing an average of 1.7 kilos on July 21. The fish, locally known as “dugsong laot,” were being kept by maritime police in a water container.
On the day the group received the report, Forbes rushed to Real to oversee the return of the fish back to the sea.
Staff members of “Task Force Sagip Likas Yaman,” which was formed by Gov. Rafael Nantes to go against environmental criminals, supported the TK in the effort.
The team immediately released the “mameng” somewhere near the fish sanctuary of Infanta town.
Earlier, it apprehended three fishermen onboard two fishing boats in the act of dynamite fishing. About 100 kilos of blasted big-eyed scad and other juvenile fish were seen floating in the water, said Forbes.
The TK also e-mailed several close-up photos of the “mameng” to Dr. Perry Alinio, executive director of the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, who confirmed that the recovered species were indeed the popular but rare fish.
“We have long been receiving reports about the presence of “mameng” off Polilio Island. This is our first time to see one. But these fish poaching activities are quite disturbing,” Forbes said.
“We’re afraid that the illegal catching and trading of this species will continue unless local officials and enforcers act on it,” said Forbes.
“Mameng” used to be found only in the Tubbataha Reef in the seas off Palawan. Known for its exquisite taste, it sells for $200 dollars a kilo live in Hong Kong.
Studies made by the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines disclosed that Napoleon wrasses could easily become extinct in Philippine waters if illegal fish trading was not stopped.
Napoleon wrasse is listed under Appendix 2 of the Convention for the International Trade of Endangered Species.
The collection, possession, transport or trade of these fishes are illegal under Philippine law. Mere possession of a single fish carries a fine of P120,000 with a prison term of between 12 and 20 years.
A follow-up investigation found that the smuggled fish belonged to a certain Nony Avellaneda from Patnanungan town in Polillo, said Forbes.
Avellaneda is a known dealer and transporter of live fish from the area, according to Forbes.
Forbes recalled that past operations in Polillo resulted in the arrest of dynamite and cyanide fishers, some of whom admitted to selling their catch to Avellaneda.
Trading of live tropical fish caught through illegal cyanide fishing is rampant in Polillo. Cyanide fishing uses toxic chemical sodium cyanide. Fishermen dive into the sea and spray the poison between the individual layers of coral reefs to stun fish, making them easy to catch. The impact on the reef ranges from coral bleaching to death.
