This
report is the result of 5 months of intensive work and represents only the
first steps towards a better understanding of the behavior and biology of these
giant fish and the effect that human activities have on them.
We strongly believe that proper information and education are the foundation of environmental conservation, and this is the reason why this report is open to the public.
Understanding
the long term effects of our actions on an animal that will reach maturity in
half the life span of a human and that can live much longer that any man is
difficult and humbling, and this is one of the primary reasons why the
“precautionary principle” should apply in a situation such as this.
Physalus
does not agree with feeding any species of wildlife, in particular a long-living
migratory species like the whale shark.
Unfortunately,
our NGO is not in the position of making any decisions regarding the practice
of provisioning, but nonetheless we feel the obligation to study and monitor this
activity to learn more about the effect on the animals and provide, through
rigorous data collection, strong tools to allow the Authorities to properly manage
the practice and make informed decisions.
This
report has been created for the Local Government Unit in Oslob, for DENR and
BFAR region 7 and the Cebu Provincial Government, to provide recommendations on
how to improve the practice.
It
is not the intention of this report to be an attack on the provisioning, the
tourism industry in Oslob or the local communities.
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| A whale shark in the waters of Tan-awan, Oslob |
Evidences
indicating that provisioning has a detrimental effect on the whale sharks have been
already presented in several occasions to the Authorities in the past 6 months.
We
think the provisioning should stop and that tourism related activities should
be converted into a well-managed eco-friendly activity, following the footprints
and the astonishing examples of Southern Leyte (LGU of Limasawa and Pintuyan) and
the model of Donsol, Sorsogon.
Physalus
will keep studying the whale sharks in Oslob and work for their protection
while providing its service to the Authorities and the communities.
Our
team is present in the waters of Oslob every day and will keep working with the
community for the protection of its marine resources and to raise awareness and
social responsibility, independently from the provisioning activities.
In
the hope that the provisioning will cease, our team will be first in line to
help the community to reorganize and adapt to the new situation, creating
educational tools both for the tourists and the people of Oslob and management
tools for the Authorities.
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