In February this year, the freshwater fish "Sesame Sword" (scientific name Spotted Plover) was listed as a national second-level protected wildlife, but there are still people who are desperate to take risks and hunt illegally. On October 6, the police of the Fujian Garden Police Station of the Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau arrested three suspects who illegally hunted "sesame swords" in the waters of the Yongjiang River for profit, and confiscated 39 live "sesame swords", involving an amount of nearly 30,000 yuan. This is also the first case of illegal hunting, transportation, and trading of "sesame swords" cracked by the Nanning police.
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Three men hunted "sesame swords" and were reported by the masses
On October 9, the police of the Fujian Garden Police Station of the Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau introduced to the client reporter of the South China Morning Post that at about 4:00 a.m. on October 6, the police received a report from enthusiastic citizens, saying that a group of people often drove a van to the waters of the Yongjiang River to fish, and there may be illegal fishing.
After receiving the report, the police quickly dispatched the police and intercepted a suspicious van near a house in the west of the Avenue of Stars. The police found that there were 3 men sitting on the van, and there were more than ten fish with sword-like shapes and spots in the tank equipment on the car. According to the identification of the fishery administration department, this fish is a national second-level protected wild animal spotted plover, commonly known as the "sesame sword".
Later, the police found more than 20 live animals and 9 frozen "sesame swords" in the house, and searched for electric fishing equipment, flying guns, diving suits and other crime tools. After the police counted, the number of "sesame swords" involved in the case totaled 39, weighing 61.9 kilograms.
The police seized the suspect's tools. South Country Morning Post client reporter Lu Di photographed
The police took the suspects Qin X, Li X and Liao back to investigate. After investigation, Qin X and three others are all people from other places, without legitimate occupations, through illegal hunting, transportation, and trafficking of wild "sesame swords", forming a supply and marketing industrial chain to make profits.
Many times illegally hunted "sesame sword" and profited 30,000 yuan from it
According to the police, due to the precious "sesame sword" variety and can not be artificially bred, in the newly adjusted "List of Wild Animals under National Key Protection" in February 2021, the banyu, that is, the "sesame sword" is listed as a national second-level protected wild animal, but any hunting, trading, transportation and other behaviors need to hold relevant qualifications to carry out.
During the investigation, the police found that from October 5 to 6, Qin Moumou and three other people illegally hunted the "sesame sword" in the waters of the Yongjiang River near Shibu. Carrying oxygen tanks, wearing diving suits, and holding flashlights, the three dived into the water to catch "sesame swords", and illegally captured 39 "sesame swords" in only two days. Later, Qin Moumou and the three people transported the "sesame sword" to the rental house and were found.
The suspect confessed to his illegal fishing of the "sesame sword". South Country Morning Post client reporter Lu Di photographed
It is reported that since last year, Qin Moumou and three other people have illegally hunted the "sesame sword" in the waters of the Yongjiang River for many times. Even after the "sesame sword" was listed as a national second-level wild protected animal in February this year, the three did not stop it.
For profit, they also used electric shock equipment for hunting. The captured "sesame sword" was sold online by Qin and three others at a price of 60 to 80 yuan a catty, and by the time they were caught, the three had illegally profited more than 30,000 yuan from it.
The "sesame sword" is listed as "national security", and it is recommended to release it directly if caught
According to the police, the "sesame sword" belongs to the national second-level protected animal, and guangxi does not currently have the relevant qualifications to allow fishing, trading and other acts. However, Qin X and three other people are still hunting, transporting and buying and selling privately under the circumstance that the "sesame sword" is known to protect animals, which is a criminal offense.
Three suspects have been criminally detained by the police. South Country Morning Post client reporter Lu Di photographed
At present, Qin xx, Li xx, and Liao xx have been criminally detained by the Jiangnan Public Security Bureau on suspicion of illegally hunting, transporting, and selling rare and endangered wildlife of the state. The precious 39 "sesame swords" have also been sent to the Guangxi Aquatic Wildlife Rescue Center.
On the afternoon of October 9, Huang Bo, a staff member of the Guangxi Aquatic Wildlife Rescue Center, introduced to reporters that the "sesame sword" has no scales and is shaped like a sharp fin, which is named after the sesame-like spots on the body. They mostly grow in the Pearl River basin in Guangxi, and are a demersal fish that prefers to live at the bottom of rivers and caves.
The "sesame sword" has delicate flesh and high nutritional value, so the market price in freshwater fish is quite high. Since the "sesame sword" cannot be artificially bred, the amount of fish stocks continues to decline during the long-term fishing process.
Before being listed as a protected animal, many people in Guangxi were accustomed to the fishing and sale of "sesame swords". "No matter how much the value of the catch is, as long as there are illegal fishing, transportation, trading and other related acts, it is illegal." The police remind the general public that when purchasing fish products, the public should also pay attention to distinguishing whether the fish can be legally bought and eaten, and must not violate the law for a moment of freshness, and the gains outweigh the losses.
If the public catches a "sesame sword", it is recommended to release it directly. If you take the "sesame sword" home, or even take a photo and upload it to the circle of friends out of curiosity, it is difficult to define whether it is subjective or not after being reported, or it will incur legal punishment.
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