Philippine E-Journals

Whale Shark Tales: Voices from Donsol, Sorsogon

Brian Saludes Bantugan | Kareen Elizabeth Belen | April May Baldemor

Discipline: Nature

 

Abstract:

Donsol, Sorsogon, located at the Southern Luzon area of the Philippines, survives on fishing. Before 1998, the villager of Donsol kill and eat whale sharks. Some Taiwanese people have also settled in the area because of the delicacy. After seven (7) sharks were found killed by the Taiwanese, the Fisheries Administration was alarmed and worked for the implementation of Order 193 Series 1998 which prohibited the catching, selling, buying, owning or trading of the whale shark in the Philippines. Also prohibited in the policy are acts that threaten, wound or kill other fishes but harm the whale shark just the same (Swimming with whale sharks, 2002).