Plastic wastes killing dolphins slowly-environmentalists

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  – Non-biodegradable solid wastes, such as plastics floating or lying on sea floor, when eaten by cetaceans have been killing the dolphins slowly, according to marine biologists and experts.

Crescencio Pahamutang, provincial officer of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Dr. Alessandro Ponzo of Physalus, a non-government organization serving for the protection of the dolphins operating in Bohol, confirmed this situation.

Dolphins eat small fish, squids and jelly fish. They mistook plastics or cellophanes as jelly fish, which when eaten and digested would make the dolphins sick resulting in their stranding ashore where they eventually die.

This matter was raised during the 2nd Bohol Dolphin Festival yesterday (May 31) that drew hundreds of participants, including children, who partook different activities like film-showing and learning from makeshift dolphins school held at Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Sports complex here.

The festival started with a parade from Plaza Rizal through a kilometer-long route to the complex where the various programs and activities were held.

The event, also coinciding with the celebration of May as the Month of the Ocean, was organized by the provincial government as initiated by Governor Edgar Chatto, known as an environmentalist himself.

Chatto had been instrumental in the approval of the Bohol Environment Code in 1998 when he was still vice governor.

The annual festival had the support of BFAR, Bohol’s Comunity Environment and Natural Resources offices based here and in Talibon town, Bohol Environment Management Office, Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammals (BRUMM), and other non-government organizations in the province.

Pahamutang and Ponzo also confirmed that of the 28 species known of dolphins and whales in the country and in Southeast Asia, 18 are found in Bohol seas.

“This proves that Bohol seas are still the best and cleanest in this part of the planet. The Boholanos should take pride of this because it means that people still care for their seas surrounding the islands,” Ponzo said.

Pahamutang said the sad fact has been that dolphins and other cetaceans found their way into the cook’s chopping block for food. “Avoiding throwing plastics and other solid wastes to the sea must be the order of the day,” he added.

Provincial administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, who represented the governor in the festival, echoed the call for action and efforts for protection and conservation of the marine mammals and wildlife because they are the source of livelihood of the people and for tourism and food security purposes.

PB Member Cesar Tomas Lopez meanwhile represented Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st dist., Bohol) to the festival.  (FREEMAN)