CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas has discouraged the public from “touching and disturbing” the sharks sighted in the coastal waters off Barangay Pasil, Santander town in southern tip of Cebu.
The sharks sighted were juvenile blacktip sharks, said Cebu Provincial Fishery Office (PFO) officer-in-charge Edgardo Delfin.
“People should not be afraid. The presence of these sharks does not pose danger especially to people swimming there. They do not bite not unless they are threatened or harmed,” Delfin said in a statement released by BFAR-7.
He said the blacktip sharks were just scrambling for food near the shores. The sharks prefer shallow and inshore habitats like coral reefs.
“These young sharks feed themselves with small fishes,” he said.
Delfin said the sighting of juvenile blacktip sharks in the shallow waters near the marine sanctuary in Pasil village was confirmed by the municipal fishery technician. All economic or fishing activities are prohibited in the sanctuary.
The sighting, he said, was “only a normal phenomenon” because the shallow-water species commonly show up in the months of February and March.
Delfin said the presence of blacktip sharks might spark economic and tourism take off.
If the sanctuary would be developed into a tourist attraction, he said the sharks and their habitat will be disturbed.
“I appeal to the public to avoid disturbing the sharks,” he said.
The marine sanctuary aims to preserve and protect the marine species and to boost fish population in a bid to maintain the rich biodiversity.
The sanctuary is guarded by the personnel of local Bantay Dagat group.
In Cebu, the catching or collecting of sharks is banned following the enactment of an existing provincial ordinance that prohibits such act. KQD (FREEMAN)