Protecting whale sharks in Oslob and in the Philippines

Professor Lawrence Liao, our Cebuano scholar who teaches Biology and Environmental Science at Hiroshima University in Japan, shared a petition for signature campaign to stop feeding the whale sharks in the Philippines addressed to Department of Agriculture Proceso Alcala and DENR Secretary Ramon Paje and written by Elson Aca who holds a Master of Applied Science in Geographic Information Systems from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Environmental Management from the National University of Singapore. The full & original version of this appeal by Elson Aca can be found at http://on.fb.me/NrEgt9.

Allow me to share certain highlights of this petition, a very timely reminder about the need for a win-win situation for sustainable tourism that will bring benefits to our people, our communities, our country WITHOUT compromising the safety and protection of our natural resources and creatures. The petition calls serious attention to proper education about whale sharks and appropriate behavior and management towards whale sharks for and by multi-sectoral stakeholders.

Elson Aca writes: “For almost a year now, Oslob (Cebu) has been intentionally feeding whale sharks in shallow waters to keep them within a certain area where tourist can interact with them. Since December last year, when it become so popular through networking sites, scientists became alarmed on the impending effects of the practice on the welfare of the whale sharks. Several meetings with stakeholders were held regarding the situation but most of the meetings would mostly focus on the tourism side and not on the whale sharks itself.

We, the scientists studying whale sharks in the Philippines, are concerned about the possible changes in behavior of those sharks that are now accustomed to feeding. Whale sharks exhibited head scratches and scrapes from bumping into feeder boats. In addition, they have been observed seemingly to associate bubbles from divers and snorkelers as food. While this behavior is already accepted and understandable already by the fishermen of Oslob, it might pose a different situation once these migratory whale sharks move outside of Oslob.”

“FERMIN, or shark P-382 is one of the “regulars” being fed in the area as early as October 2011. Fermin was not seen for three (3) days from July 17 to 19 and re-sighted the next day with propeller scars on its head, almost damaging the left eye (photos of injured Fermin can be seen online-http://on.fb.me/NrEgt9 ) The most logical explanation for the scars would be that Fermin went on to feed in an area unfamiliar with Oslob’s feeding practices. Regular Oslob whale sharks’ usual approach of bumping the boat from behind might be seen as an aggressive behavior by other fishermen, causing them to open their motors and leave, hence the propeller scars on the head. What is worrisome is that it might not only happen to Fermin.”

Must other vulnerable whale sharks have to face danger and propeller damage?

The ACA petition continues, “Feeding of whale sharks for economic purposes is clearly exploitation of nature and does not promote ecological balance,” hence, the petition calls for immediately stopping the feeding practice not only in Oslob but in other parts of the Philippines, that EIS and ECC should be acquired before such activity be undertaken, and in keeping with the precautionary principle, that regulation should ensure that “tourism and livelihood activities should not result in significant harm to the sea creatures.”

The petitioners clarify that they are “not against swim with the whale shark tourism, yet if offered, we encourage that it should be done sustainably without disturbing the presence and without inflicting harm to the whale sharks.”

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