Bohol halts whale shark interaction activities

1 month ago 13

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

Already have Rappler+?
to listen to groundbreaking journalism.

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Bohol halts whale shark interaction activities

HALT. Bohol Governor met with local authorities on Tuesday, February 4, to discuss his order to halt all forms of whale shark interaction activities in Bohol.

Bohol Governor Erico Aris Aumentado

Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado's Executive Order No. 10 - 2025 considers the harmful effects of whale shark interaction activities on biodiversity

CEBU, Philippines – Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado ordered the immediate cessation of all forms of whale shark interaction activities, especially whale shark watching, in the province after local advocates expressed concern over the “harmful effects” of the activities on biodiversity.

A copy of the governor’s Executive Order No. 10 – 2025 was sent to Rappler on Tuesday, February 4. Based on the document, the province-wide ban of the activities took effect on Monday, February 3.

“The Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP MG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DENR – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), all stationed in Bohol, as well as the Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC) having jurisdiction in Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis, shall enforce this Order, ensuring that no whale shark interaction activity is conducted,” the order read.

In January, groups of environmentalists, diving operators, resort owners, and other stakeholders reached out to the local government and national agencies to look into whale shark watching operations in the towns of Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis in Bohol.

The environmentalist group Tagbilaran Baywatch, in a letter to the Bohol Provincial Board on January 20, claimed that the whale shark watching activities were harmful to the aquatic animal.

The Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) of Bohol claimed that some of the whale shark watching sites were already operating even before completing legal requirements.

On Tuesday, the governor said in a statement on his social media page that they had made preparations with authorities to ensure the implementation of the executive order.

“Ang atong Whale Shark Task Force magpahigayon og site visit sa mga hingtungdang mga dapit aron ipahigayon ang seremonya sa pagpahimutang sa closure order,” Aumentado said. (Our Whale Shark Task Force will conduct a site visit to the concerned areas to conduct the ceremonial implementation of the closure order.)

Lawyer Gertrude Biliran, spokesperson for Tagbilaran Watch, told Rappler that the group considered the implementation of the ban a victory. – Rappler.com