Environmental groups and tourism stakeholders in Bohol raise concerns about the impact of whale shark watching activities on the endangered species and the island's reputation as a sustainable tourism destination.
Environment alists, diving operators, resort owners, and other stakeholders in Bohol , Philippines, have united to raise concerns about potentially harmful whale shark watching practices in the island province.
In a letter dated January 22, 2024, and delivered to Rappler on January 30, 2024, the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) of Bohol appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to investigate whale shark watching operations in the towns of Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis. The PTC alleges that some operators are conducting activities without obtaining necessary legal requirements, such as an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), which is crucial for projects impacting the environment. The group claims to have previously sent a letter to the DENR and relevant agencies in September 2024 but received no response. The PTC also expressed concern about the involvement of foreign investors in the whale shark watching business, citing the Philippine Constitution, which reserves the use and enjoyment of the nation's marine wealth exclusively to Filipino citizens. The letter highlights the establishment of at least two new whale shark watching sites in the Barangays of Catarman and Dao, both located in Dauis, Panglao Island, Bohol. The PTC warns that the image of Bohol as the country's first and only UNESCO Global Geopark and a pillar of sustainable and responsible tourism is at risk if these practices continue.Adding to the concerns, environmentalist group Tagbilaran Baywatch, in a letter to the Bohol Provincial Board on January 20, 2024, argued that whale shark watching activities disrupt the animals' natural migratory patterns and potentially harm their reproductive and communication abilities. They cite Bohol Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-008, which prohibits provisioning or attracting marine wildlife, including feeding, baiting, and luring. Tagbilaran Baywatch urges the local government to ban whale shark watching throughout the province and revoke business permits of operators. Meanwhile, the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) clarified in a letter to PTC in October 2024 that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is responsible for conserving and protecting whale sharks. The PENRO also explained that whale shark interactions are not covered under Presidential Decree 1586, which governs Environmental Impact Statements.
WHALESHARKS TOURISM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BOHOL PHILIPPINES SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
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