Palau Hands Down Harsh Penalty for Illegal Shark Finning

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Palau Hands Down Harsh Penalty for Illegal Shark Finning

Posted on November 24th, 2007 by vicezilla

Taiwan fishing boat captain Tsai Wuen Teng will spend 32 days in jail for attempt to bribe officials over an illegal shark finning case in Palau. The remainder of his two year sentence is suspended. Tsai must also pay a civil penalty of $160,000; $20,000 in cost recovery to Palau’s Marine Enforcement Bureau; forfeit $5,643 in fish sales monies and forfeit his fishing equipment of hooks, lines and leaders after being caught with 650 shark fins, 94 shark bodies and ten shark heads on August 15.

He has also been fined $1000 and will have to forfeit the $2,392 he offered in an attempted bribe of Marine Law Enforcement Officer Earl Benhart. $185,000 in fines and penalties, plus the loss of his fishing equipment and 32 days in jail just to provide illegal fins for soup.

I hope Mr. Teng’s conviction will serve as a warning to other illegal finners that their time is coming. As Mr. Teng sits in a squalid jail cell for 32 days in shame, lets hope he uses his time to reflect on his actions and realizes that when he gets out there are much more fulfilling ways to earn a living.