DUMAGUETE CITY, (PNA) -– Efforts are now underway to revive and strengthen a large marine vertebrates stranding network in the country’s largest protected area, the Tañon Strait, which lies between the islands of Negros and Cebu and connects the Visayan Sea to the Bohol Sea.
Viernov Grefalde, Protected Area Superintendent (PASU) of the Tañon Strait Protected Area Management Board, on Thursday disclosed that there is a need to establish a marine mammal stranding network to allow for quick response and management of distressed sea creatures, such as dolphins, whales and turtles.
On Friday, two large international conservation groups, the LAMAVE (Large Marine Vertebrates) project in the Philippines and Greenpeace, will be sending resource speakers to marine and coastal law enforcement seminar at a local hotel in Dumaguete.
Law enforcement agencies, local government units and environmental advocates are expected to attend the seminar which will focus on the establishment of a marine mammal stranding network, said Grefalde.
This comes as two separate dolphin strandings were reported in Bais City on Wednesday and the adjacent Tanjay City on Thursday.
The dolphins were rescued by private individuals and groups.
The dolphin that was found close to shore in Tanjay City was found to have a large wound and needs immediate treatment and care.
Grefalde, who has five assistant PASUs to assist him, said he had already coordinated with District 1 PASU Oscar Mongcopa to oversee the rescue of the distressed dolphin in Tanjay City.
He allayed fears of massive stranding in the Tañon Strait, noting that these occurrences are usually reported in big bodies of water as opposed to the strait.
However, he admits what appears to be an increase in the number of individual dolphin strandings along the strait this year.
Grefalde said injury is the usual cause for a marine mammal to come close to shore or get beached.
This is the third dolphin stranding reported for this year, with another one about two weeks ago in the La Libertad-Tayasan area in northern Negros Oriental, he said.
These marine mammals are prone to injuries caused by economic activity in the strait, such as getting trapped in fish nets or being hit by a boat propeller, according to Grefalde.
Grefalde admits the need for huge resources and logistics as well as a collective effort for the marine mammal stranding network to become successful.
He also stressed the need for enhanced information, education and communications (IEC) campaign to drum up public awareness and support for the protection of the Tañon Strait and its resources.
The Tañon Strait is the largest protected area in the Philippines with a coverage of 518,000 hectares, starting from Sibulan and other towns and cities in Negros Oriental all the way to Daang Bantayan in Cebu province, Grefalde said.
About 2 million people either benefit or are interacting in the conservation site that attracts a lot of human and economic activity, he added.