Whale shark sighting seens as indicator of improving Davao Gulf

Davao City (21 April) — The sightings of whale sharks along the seas in Buhisan, Davao City are an indicator of an improved environmental condition of the Davao Gulf.

Davao City councilor Leo Avila III, chair of the Davao Gulf Management Council (DGMC) said that the appearance of the whales along this site is becoming frequent that they could be seen almost weekly.

“This is the result of the consciousness of the people in the barangay as they become vigilant in guarding their waters of illegal activities including disposing of garbage,” he said.

Avila said they are contemplating to designate the area as a tourist attraction where whale watching can be undertaken.

He said they are coordinating closely with the barangay in documenting the presence of the whales as to frequency and the spots.

“We need this as guide in our future plans,” he said.

Avila also said that they noticed that dolphins and whales travel to waters where fishes are abundant and it can be seen in the Buhisan area that small fishes and shrimps are aplenty.

He said other areas along the Davao Gulf also had sightings of the whales and dolphins and they had given instructions to the local government units to document it so necessary programs could be introduced in the area especially related to tourism.

Davao Gulf is the favorite playground of various species of highly migratory cetaceans (dolphins and whales) but in the late 80s to 2000 they cease to appear because food is no longer available, he said.

He said there are 11 kinds of cetaceans that could be found in the Davao Gulf.

The survey in March 2004 by a composite team from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Save the Davao Gulf Foundation and WWF-Philippines confirmed the presence of at least ten whale and dolphin species within the gulf area.

In a summary of area profile released by DGMC it said that three species of whales are new record of the gulf and these are the killer whale. Cuvier’s beaked whale, and the rare Indo-pacific beaked whale.

With persistent reports of new sightings by fishermen, the Davao Gulf could be among the top cetacean diversity sights in the Philippines.

The report also said that eight of the 10 species are listed in CITES – threatened by extinction unless protected or conserved. The earlier recorded sightings were around the southern portion of Ligid Island, Samal Island and south of Barangay Matina in Davao City. (PIA/pdbanzon)