BOHOL Gov. Aris Aumentado ordered by way of Executive Order No. 10, s. of 2025, the suspension of all whale shark watching/interaction activities in three areas effective Feb. 7 for breaching environmental laws, convention agreements and provincial ordinance.
The areas halted where the whale shark watching are held are the towns of Lila, which started luring domestic and foreign tourists about 4 years back; Alburquerque town, whose operations are being questioned for it is located within Alburquerque – Loay – Loboc Protected area; and in Dauis town, the newest.
All the whale watching activities in these towns are reportedly sanctioned by each municipality but allegedly without clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), or the lack of it.
On such violation cited by the governor is the provisioning, like feeding of whale sharks that attract them to interaction areas. The feeding with krills “disrupts their natural behavior and threatens the balance and healthful ecology.”
It was also learned that “any physical contact, including touching or handling, or attempted touching, riding and stepping on, or attempting to ride on the marine wildlife” is strictly prohibited.
The governor’s fiat also cited as basis of his action Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-008 and joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. of 2020 by Department of Tourism, DENR, Dept of Agriculture and the Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DLG), governing the sustainable marine wildlife tourism interaction.
The governor’s EO ordered the municipal mayors concerned, the Maritime Police, DENR, Phil. Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Provincial Environment Management Office to effectively carry out the order.
The suspension of the said activities shall remain enforced “until all applicable requirements under their jurisdiction for these activities have been met following a comprehensive industry-wide consultation with stakeholders and conservation groups.”
The protection of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) is governed and listed in The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Flora and Fauna under appendix II.
According to Free Whale Shark Coalition, there are three operators of whale shark interaction in barangay Taug, Lila town: Taug Whale Shark Watching and Snorkeling, IWON Lila Whale Shark Diving and Ocean Blue Whale Shark Diving.
VicTours is said to be the operator of whale shark in barangay Sta. Filomena, Alburquerque town. The coalition said that DENR ordered VicTours to stop operating “for having no ECC and Special Agreement for Protected Area (SAPA).
The Bohol Wonders and Recreational Services operates the whale shark interaction in barangay Catarman, Dauis town starting December 2024, it said.
Meanwhile, Vice-Gov. Tita V. Baja said that the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) conserving and preserving marine life has been referred to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan after the governor endorsed the same to her office.
The said MOA is to be entered into by the provincial government and BALYENA Org, Inc, a non-stock and non-profit organization at Paseo del Mar, Jagna, Bohol, for the conservation efforts of marine life within the territorial jurisdiction of Bohol. (rvo)
