CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 is forming a composite team to study and conduct research on the ecology and feeding habits of whale sharks in Barangay Tan-awan, Oslob, Cebu.
Environment officials was prompted to create the eight-man team which will do the research and study for a period of three months after several wildlife and environment advocates filed a petition to stop this kind of anthropogenic practice.
Wildlife and environment advocates claim that feeding the whales is not environment-friendly and could harm the sea mammals.
DENR-7 executive director Isabelo R. Montejo said that this is a multi-agency undertaking which tries to look at this phenomenon with the goal of protecting and conserving the species and at the same time supporting the eco-tourism industry so as not to deprive local fisher folk with the reasonable income.
The study which started last Monday will end on December 17. It has a budget of P225,000. Montejo said it seeks to monitor and assess the health status of coral reef and other benthic life forms (living and non-living); and determine fish abundance and even the sizes of the reef indicators, fish species, and the commercially valuable species.
It also aims to conduct plankton survey; assess and monitor the oceanography and quality of water along the areas; and monitor some issues and concerns that may influence the health of the whale shark and other marine resources.
The whale shark watching and feeding in Oslob, Cebu became a popular interactive tourism activity since early this year after foreigners discovered that the species frequents certain offshore areas in the southern part of the island with the offshore areas in the said town gaining that prominence due to the frequency with which the species is observed.
Montejo added that the results of the research study or technical report will provide information and recommendations that will help the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Oslob and the various stakeholders in the formulation of plans, ordinances and other management interventions.
He added that it will also serve as an input for the LGU and the scientific community on the baseline information for further research and studies on the species.
The methodologies include plankton survey; benthic life forms and substrate; fish density, diversity and biomass; ethnobiological survey; oceanography and water quality; and oceanography and water quality.FPL (FREEMAN)