Ronnie C. Roa | October 31, 2022
Over eight (8) tons of empty Kapis Shells were confiscated by elements of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Fishery Research and Development Section (FRDS) of the City Agriculture Office in a private port in Ormoc City last October 22.
A source disclosed that the said empty Kapis shells were transported from Sorsogon loaded in a wing van for Cebu when it was intercepted and confiscated inside the private port.
When apprehended, the driver and the truck helped failed to present a Local Transport Permit (LTP) but instead presented an auxiliary permit. The said auxiliary permit that was presented showed that the said contraband weigh 1.5 tons. However, upon checking, the PCG and the FRDS discovered it to actually weigh 8.463 tons.
The confiscation of the said Kapis shells was by virtue of the Fisheries Administrative Order 157. The said FAO enlisted the rules and regulations on the gathering, taking, removing, or collecting of kapis of the species Placuna placenta in Philippine waters.
Kapis comes from the Placuna placenta species which is native to the seawaters of Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and the Philippines. The mollusks are edible while their shells are good for décor and handicrafts.
Kapis shell is also called the windowpane oyster. For thousands of years, its shells served as a glass substitute due to its durability and translucence.
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