Feeding of whale sharks to go on

CEBU, Philippines - Feeding activities of the whale sharks in Oslob town will continue despite the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau to start ending the practice.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia met with officials of the DENR, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Tourism, municipal officials and the fisherfolks yesterday to discuss the matter.

Garcia heard their sentiments about the popular whale sharks feeding in Oslob following the claim of some marine biologists that feeding the sharks is not a good practice and may cause detrimental changes in their behavior.

She pointed out that protocols on whale sharks protection are very well established by a municipal ordinance and by daily education and communication campaign of the local government unit.

“For as long as naa sila sa Oslob, segurado di sila masamdan, di hapakon og bugsay kay they are protected,” Garcia said.

Garcia ordered a three-month monitoring of the protocol by BFAR, DENR, DOT and the LGU.

In the meantime, the activity will continue until the concerned agencies will come up with its report after three months.

The DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau earlier issued the directive to the DENR in Central Visayas to stop the feeding practice in reaction to an email from a whale shark researcher Elson Aca, on the feeding practice of whale sharks by tourists and scuba divers in Oslob.

A marine biologist had also said that feeding the sharks is not a good practice and it may cause detrimental changes in their behavior of whale sharks.

Garcia earlier expressed fear that a ban on underwater activities in Oslob would drive away tourists.

“This is creating a very positive economic impact on the community,” Garcia said.

The DENR earlier said that the practice of feeding is against protocol on whale shark watching.

The presence of whale sharks in the municipal water of Oslob has put the southern town in the tourism map when foreign and local tourists including celebrities visit the place and enjoy the feeding.

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guarin said he is not subscribing the earlier observation of DENR and the marine biologist.

“Ang atong gibuhat diha naka-secure sa atong mga whale sharks mao nang nadaghan sa atong municipal waters sa Oslob,” Guarin said. — (FREEMAN)