Environmentalists call for protection of thresher sharks and marine life

DUMAGUETE CITY — Environmentalists are calling for the protection of thresher sharks in Negros Oriental after the species were included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Flora and Fauna.

The call was aired during a press conference over the weekend at the Heritage Booth of Dauin town at the Sidlakang Negros Village in Dumaguete City. The conference was held as a prelude to the 2nd Philippine Shark Summit to be held in Dumaguete from November 9 to 11.

Gary Cases, president of Project Shark Link in Cebu—a diver of 39 years and an advocate for marine conservation with a passion for shark conservation—enjoined the people of Negros Oriental to help in efforts to conserve the sharks, as well as marine environment, as a whole.

Shark tourism has helped promote Malapascua in Cebu, which only took months to rebuild and recover from the damaging effects of typhoon Sendong with the help of various groups, Cases said. “It is best to see the sharks in the water than in your soup bowl,” referring to shark’s fin soup, he said.

Another diver, Dennis Bryan Bait-it, who is the corporate secretary of Project Shark Link, also shared some good news on his recent trip to South Africa where he and his companions lobbied for the protection of three kinds of sharks to be included in Appendix II.

“We want to protect all kinds of sharks, and we want to show the world—and we have already shown the world—how worthy the shark is alive than dead,” Bait-it said. “It is better to see them alive in the ocean than seeing them in the market and ending up on our plates,” he added.

Last year, some 800 kilos of shark meat coming from Siaton, Negros Oriental were apprehended in Naga, Cebu, Cases disclosed. “There are so many species of sharks, but only two of them are known to be aggressive, he said. More sharks are killed by people than the other way around,” he added.

Campaigns manager Danny Ocampo of Oceana Philippines—who is also a diver, dive master and underwater photographer— explained that saving the oceans would mean being able to feed the Filipinos and the world.

“This can only happen if we protect habitats, if we end illegal fishing especially in municipal waters, as well as trying to minimize the wastes that is happening in our oceans,” Ocampo said. “When you talk about conservation, you talk about livelihood and more fish and abundance returns for the ecosystem.”

Oceana has been in the Philippines for the past two years with Tañon Strait, between the islands of Cebu and Negros, being its main area of conservation, Ocampo said.

Ocampo said he has been in Dumaguete to support efforts of Biglete and make his operations more sustainable and to promote responsible diving. Biglete, a dive tour operator and owner of a hotel in Dumaguete, was asked by Dauin Mayor Neil Credo to manage the booth of that town for the Buglasan Festival.

While diving is non-extractive, a lot of the activities underwater contribute to harm as well and he has seen so many bad practices, especially in photo contests, Ocampo said.

Negros Oriental Provincial Board Member Erwin Macias, organizer of the Buglasan Photo Contest, lauded the NGOs’ efforts to protect the marine environment in the province. “Awareness and conservation of the environment has to start with us and that is why I am hoping that all locals will lend their support for these,” he said.

Soren Knudsen, Marine Conservation Philippines program manager, cited and thanked Biglete for being a “local champion” in marine conservation. “It is because of your advocacy, your personality and your tremendous interest in protecting nature that I am here today,” Knudsen said.

“Most people aren’t privy to the destruction underwater and as such we become ambassadors and I hope that participating here we can help highlight some of these issues” threatening the oceans, he said.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Negros Island Region Regional Director Al Orolfo assured the public of strict law enforcement against illegal fishing, especially at the Tañon Strait.

Now that the thresher shark has been elevated to its current category in the CITES, Orolfo said the DENR will intensify its efforts against thresher shark trading.