WILD NEWS - Slaughtering of our Sharks!

Depressing and disturbing photos recently taken (wk of Sept15.08) in Donsol Sorsogon area.

Sharks - mostly dogsharks (their livers, one picture here showing that, used for Squalene products according to our source), and tresher sharks, and even threatened species like Manta Rays.

Contrary to myths:

- Sharks are generally not a threat to humans - it's the other way around. In fact, they protect our fish supply from mid-level predators, "clean up" our oceans of dead animals, among other things.

- Shark fin soup consumption is not a status symbol of any kind (mayaman? susyal?), nor it gives you healthful benefits. It could, however be a 'status symbol' for IGNORANCE and stupidity.

Threat to sharks, and other marine life, is a long-term threat to human survival. Without a complete, functional, working eco-system, the entire biosphere could collapse. We're talking about an unsustainable harvesting of sharks here - by the hundreds and thousands!!

Is this a case of 'fishermen in need'? We all know that this is not the case. They just want extra, quick buck.

Is this a case of LGU neglect? We don't know - but Donsol area is known for 'protection and conservation of whalesharks' - so why the irony?

Is this case of general lack of awareness? For sure, let's all fight to conserve what's not ours to abuse.

What can we do? Boycott any shark products. Educate people. Tell your friends about this. Volunteer in NGO ex. WWF work in Donsol, or as Ocean Defender for Greenpeace (google the sites).

Start writing emails about this.... now!

EP Sep3 - The Cleanest River!

I'm glad that we still have a few spectacular spots in the Philippines that are not yet destroyed by commercialization or simple abuse. BUGANG river in Panay island is REALLY super clean. I've seen several aquatic plants growing abundantly in the river, serving as its natural filtering (purifying) system, some fish, and even (accidentally) drank water from it.

I guess the better part of it is that, the water source is an underground river - safe and away from the polluting activities common to any human community. The only visible, open stretch is 6 kilometers of clean water flowing downstream to the open sea.

Let's see:

> Potable water above normal drinking standard. CHECK!

> Nipa and mangroves growing in the banks and brackish water section of the river - serving as 2-way protection of the sea (from human trash and corrosion) and the inland (from sea tides). CHECK!

> Healthy system with fish and aquatic plants. CHECK!

> Controlled commercialization (they only opened 1 portion for public use, but very small and manageable). CHECK!

> Pollutants and garbage under control by local management (local volunteers even have regular clean-ups). CHECK!

Well, no wonder - it is the cleanest river in the Philippines!

Aug27 Ep - Apo Island

Note: Apo Island is in Visayas, south of Dumaguete, not to be confused with 'Apo Reef' w/c is in the west of Mindoro mainland, Luzon. Mt. Apo is a mountain hehe, not an island, and is in Mindanao. Apo Reef is known for sea turtles and small reef sharks (as in ang dami ko nakita dati, every dive).

I've been diving for quite a considerable time, but this was the first time that I got a chance to visit the dive sites around Apo Island. And as a pleasant surprise, I had a few 'firsts' on this trip. Unang-una: i've never (ever) seen a Potato Cod in the wild. I've seen a few in the Seaworld ocenarium in Indonesia (I think that was Indo) and another oceanarium in Osaka Japan. But seeing them in the wild, diving in a reef - that was a first. Malaki siya, probably 3ft in length, and 1ft thick at least. See sample photo borrowed from flickr.com/photos/claudioangelini.

Of course sea turtles are also common in the area. I had a few minutes of 'bonding moment' with a hawksbill sea turtle, swimming with this elegant creature just 1-2 feet away. Amazing!

Another first for me was to see a monstrous lone Jackfish (talakitok), it is at least 3/4 of my total body size, maybe even more. I momentarily froze by the glimpse of it, unfortunately - it swam behind me, just a mere 2 meter away, so I only saw it briefly. But the size is really something for the books!

Corals abound in different shapes, sizes and colors - a truly awesome underwater paradise. Mabini/ Anilao is already spectacular - and Apo Island is probably an equal rival.

One message from this trip; the local community worked hard (and still working hard) to preserved their marine treasures. They've worked together to stop unsustainable fishing methods (ex. dynamite w/c destroys the coral reef), educated their community on conservation work - and after years of patience, they are finally earning their pay. A healthier reef gave them more bountiful fish catch. On top, eco-tourism (divers) frequent the place and hence, provide more profits for the community.

"Save the reef and save our future."