Proceedings of the International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop

Summary of the Use of Cyanide in the Philippines
Gil Adora and Aqualino Alvarez
Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Background
Live reef fi sh trade started as a hobby in
early 1950s, based on BFAR studies and
notes. Trade picked up after 10 years as other
business men began investing. Importance of
the LRF trade was noticed only in 1968 when
export reached 3,931kg amounting to PhP
153, 329.00 (quite substantial at that time).
In 1970, export value reached a million pesos
and increased twenty-fold in a span of ten
years. In the subsequent years, the live reef
fi shes are within the top ten fi shery products
exported by the country.
Traditional methods include fi ne mesh nets,
modified spear guns and hookah diving.
Due to the lucrative nature of this business,
catchers opted for easy, less expensive and
environmentally destructive techniques such
as the use of cyanide to stun the fi sh.
Under Philippine laws, the trade of cyanide
tainted live reef fi sh is not allowed. Such
laws are Republic Act 8550, “Fisheries Act
of 1998”; and Republic Act 6969, “An Act
to Control Toxic Substances, Hazardous
and Nuclear Wastes”. RA 8550 - Section 88
prohibits the use of obnoxious substances
e.g. cyanide in fi shing. Under this law, the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is
mandated to develop, improve, manage and
conserve the country’s fi sheries and aquatic
resources. BFAR monitors and regulates
the importation and exportation of fish
and marine fi shery and aquatic products.
RA 6969 specifi es the requirements pertaining
to the importation, manufacturing and use
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of cyanide and cyanide compounds and
its storage, transport and disposal of its
generated wastes, and provides penalties
for violations and for other purposes. The
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) is the lead agency in the
regulation of registration and importation
of chemicals. BFAR as a cooperating agency
issues endorsement letter provided that the
client met the requirements.
Cyanide Detection Test
Before the 1990’s, cyanide analyses were
conducted at the Chemistry Section of
BFAR’s Post Harvest Division. The method
used then, Picrate Method, can only give
qualitative results, e.g. positive or negative. In
the 1990s the distillation and ISE analytical
method was introduced.
CDT labs serve two major functions. The fi rst
is support to law enforcement activities. Such
activities may include evidences that require
laboratory tests like fish and substances
suspected to contain cyanide like the tablets
and water in squirt bottles. When needed the
laboratory chemist may be called to court
hearings as an expert witness. The second is
required by law that is analysis of samples for
trading purposes, i.e. laboratory testing for
live fi sh prior to shipment. CDT laboratories
analyzed 2800 (on the average) samples in
a year with the majority coming from the
Palawan area.
BFAR contracted the operation of its
CDT labs with IMA since the agency was
undermanned to attend to the large volume