A Vietnamese trawler that was stopped by the Philippines Police earlier in the week (18th October) has been found to contain as many as 300 frozen turtles in its hold. All the sea turtles are from endangered and protected species. 13 Vietnamese fishermen have been arrested.
The boat was stopped and checked close to Mangsee Island in Balabac, Southern Palawan by the Special Boat Unit of the Philliphines police. Authorities discovered frozen turtles in the hold and are still counting and cataloguing the haul.
So far over 200 turtles, all of them from endangered species, have been removed from the hold. Some of the officials believe that the final count could be close to 300.
It is believed that the cargo would eventually be heading to Vietnam and Malaysia.
Adel Villena, lawyer of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development said that the fishermen will be charged under both the Fisheries Code and the Philippine Wildlife Act.
The Philippine waters around Balabac are becoming increasingly popular with poachers and many conservationists in the area are calling for more action to tackle the gangs and trawlers that are operating in the region. While jail sentences under the Wildlife Act can be as high as 12 years the majority of foreign poachers are generally deported without prosecution.