Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry confirmed that perpetrators of the shark fin trade in Bau-Bau City, Southeast Sulawesi Province, would be subject to legal proceedings.
"Currently, we are still investigating the person in charge of PT R and other related parties for alleged violations of the use of protected fish," Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision Rear Admiral Adin Nurawaluddin noted in a release here Saturday.
According to the results of surveillance, which included evidence examination, some 4,030 kilograms (kg) of shark fin had been found, Nurawaluddin revealed.
The quantity was almost double the initial figure originally mentioned by the person in charge of PT R that claimed to have delivered only about 2,450 kg.
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He admitted that some information from the company differed as compared to data obtained from the surveillance, which they would investigate further.
"There are several different types of information received from the company with the results of the field inspection, and of course, we are still investigating," he stated.
Nurawaluddin pointed out that the use of protected fish species must be backed up with the business license and Fish Species Utilization Permit, and their transportation or distribution should be completed with a Fish Species Transport Certificate to ensure that the methods employed for capture aligned with the quota and did not threaten the sustainability or ran counter to local values.
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PT R was suspected of having attempted to send illegal shark fins from Bau-Bau and Dobo to Manado. It was deemed illegal, given the lack of proper permits and certifications for collection and transportation from the area.
"PT R has a permit for the North Sulawesi area, but they were attempting to bring in illegal shark fins from Dobo and Bau-Bau, and it was suspected that (those shark fins) would be traded as if they were legal products from Manado," he stated.
Nurawaluddin also revealed that six types of shark fins, intended to be sent to Manado, were in fact protected shark species listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
"This case opens our eyes (to issues, such as) legal business activities that attempt to employ illegal methods and commodities in their business activities," he stated.
Nurawaluddin made assurance that the company would face legal proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations.
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