THE PHILIPPINE STAR lSr.
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science&environment
Editor: JUANIYO ARCELLANA
Speaker's shark preservation bill gets OK
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo's bill that calls for the
preservation of sharks in the
country a4d provides for their
regulation was approved on
third and final reading on
Monday.
A total of 174 la'"vmakers
vot$d to approve House Bill
8926 (Shark Conservation
Act) regulating the catching,
sale, purchase, possessiory
transporthtion, importation and
exportation of all sharks, rays
and chimaeras in dre countrv.
"sharks a-re typica)ly depicted
as apex predators that have
significant top-down effects on
food webs. They help keep prey
populations healthy by feeding
on weak, sidg or old fishes, and
prevent overgrazing of cri tical
marine habitats." she said..
The congresswoman frqm
Pjmpangaiaid the measure
aims to address the extinction
of marine wiidlife and achieve
a balance between human
needs and the integrity of the
Philippine marine ecosystem.
HB 8926 hlso provides for
the conservation of sharks,
and related classes, as well as
the threats to their existence.
"The removal of sharks ftom
an ecosystem has the potential
to create significant changes
to predator-prcy interactions,
affecting the whole system."
"Aside from ecological
THURSDAY I FEBRUARY 7, 2O19
benefits, sharks and rays have
also been proven to boost local
economies through sustainable
tourism activities, and through
.fisheries in many develoPing
countries," the former president
exolained.
'As
a matter of PoUry the
Department of Ag.riculture
shdll have iurisdiition over the
regulation of the consumPtion
an-d preservation of sharks, raYs
and chimaeras in all PhiliPPine
waters.
Tlie lead agency that
will take charge of its strict
implementation will be the
DA's Bureau of Fisheries and
Aouatic
- Resources.
- Delon Porcalla
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