Sponsored By:
The Barbara Delano Foundation
The Homeland Foundation
The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
The AVINA Foundation

Presented By:
WildAid
Hawaii Audubon Society
Pacific Fisheries Coalition

Moonyeen Nida R. Alava and Arnel Andrew SP. Yaptinchay
WWF-Philippines
23-A Maalindog St., UP Village, Diliman
Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Email: [email protected]

Six villages in southern Philippines have been documented to have traditional whale shark (Rhincodon typus) fishery and trade between 1993 to 1996. In a joint survey by WWF-Philippines and Silliman University between 1996 to 1997, nine new sites were added to the list. In four of the traditional fishery sites, fishers were interviewed on whale shark landings between 1990 to 1996 and results showed an estimated average catch of 26 individuals per site per year. Actual landing average for 1997 was 13 individuals per site in 11 sites monitored. Comparative data shows an increase in demand (both national and international market), increase in fishing effort (i.e., the number of sites, boat, fishers), a decrease in the volume of catch landed per site, and a consequent increase in the price per whale shark. Results supported earlier hypothesis on the unsustainable practice of whale shark fishery. Conservation measure through a fishery ban, however, was unwelcome by traditional hunters who relied on the fishery for livelihood. Recommended management strategies were the employment of an Integrated Conservation and Development Program (ICDP) and establishment of a whale shark ecotourism activity.

Report on a whale shark aggregate in Donsol, Sorsogon (southern Luzon) in January 1998 led to the discovery and promotion of the area as a potential ecotourism site spearheaded by the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council. Media coverage of this discovery led to tourist influx to an ill-equipped community as well as to hunters' encroachment to the site which otherwise had no history of hunting. On the tourism aspect, WWF-Philippines was invited to help establish the whale shark ecotourism activity and through a consultative effort, the Donsol Butanding Ecotourism Management Plan was developed, with financial support from UNDP. The whale shark interaction tourism in Donsol has been operational for two seasons and tourism statistics is presented for 1998 and 1999. Tourism as an economic alternative to hunting has been proven to be successful, but political rivalries and administrative problems have blighted tourism management itself.

On encroachment problems, the local government of Donsol implemented a local ordinance protecting whale sharks in their municipal waters early March 1998. Despite of this ordinance, killing of seven whale sharks in the area was carried out. This raised a national alarm that led to the establishment of a Fishery Administrative Order (FAO 193, also called as the Whale Shark and Manta Ray Ban) in late March 1998. Positive and negative effects of the ban are discussed. Despite of the national ban, poaching, illegal trade, and entrapment in fish corral still pose problems.