Thursday, 19 July 2012
La.Ma.Ve’s recent post on the expanding ‘Whale Shark feeding’ in Cebu….sad times people…sad times
Provincial Government says ‘Yes’ to feeding Whale Sharks in Moalboal
Representatives from Physalus - the Large Marine Vertebrates Project met with Governor Gwen Garcia, Mayor Guaren (Oslob), Mayor Cabaron (Moalboal) in Capitol on Monday 16th July to discuss the expansion of feeding practices to other municipalities in the south of Cebu.
Despite highlighting the issues of increased contact with motorized boats leading to propellor injury, disruption to migration behaviour, which may eventually affect reproductive cycles, and concerns about the limited diet of the sharks, there will be no move to prevent the practice of feeding in other municipalities. In fact, the activity was deemed a positive thing to boost tourism.
Propellor contact is a major threat to Whale Sharks. An association of boats with food may mean an increase in boat contact running the risk of serious injury. This shark was seen in Tan-awan, Oslob. The multiple parallel scars are indicative of propellor contact. These scars run across the shark’s back. The base of the dorsal fin is seen at the left of the photo.
Propellor contact is a major threat to Whale Sharks. An association of boats with food may mean an increase in boat contact running the risk of serious injury. This shark was seen in Tan-awan, Oslob. The multiple parallel scars are indicative of propellor contact. These scars run across the shark’s back. The base of the dorsal fin is seen at the left of the photo.Priority was given to the educational and awareness value of shark interaction, with the understanding that people have a more positive interest in the whale sharks and are less likely to butcher them, although there has been a law in place for the last 14 years protecting whale sharks (FAO-193 - 1998) and the last known isolated illegal act was in Anilao in February 2010. Profit was listed as tertiary to awareness and protection.
Currently there is no educational aspect to the experience in Oslob. The interaction is frequently referred to as “whale watching” and this is mirrored by the road sign in Tan-awan.
“Whale watching” in Tan-awan, Oslob | Photo by Tuki ChroniclesPhysalus will continue to express its disagreement and concern for these practices and will keep collecting scientific information to ensure the protection of the Butanding in the Visayas. Physalus hopes to effect measures of protection that prevent harm, rather than the correction of detrimental practices.
The Large Marine Vertebrates Project of Physalus will continue to work closely with the local government and communities in Oslob to give them the tools for best management practices to minimize the negative impacts on the sharks.
