PHILIPPINES: PAMILACAN ISLAND: RESIDENTS HUNT WHALESHARKS

Описание: (4 May 1997) Tagalog/Eng/Nat

For generations, the people on the small island of Pamilacan in the southern Philippines have relied on whaling to earn their living.

But, following an international whale ban, the residents have shifted to whalesharks.

The whalesharks have given them a decent living as well. But maybe not for long.

Concerns have been raised over the hunting of these sharks and there are calls to include them in the ban.

Here in this small island called Pamilacan, just off Bohol province in the southern Philippines, villagers know of only one type of livelihood -- fishing.

For generations, these people have been hunting for whales, because of the good prices they used to get for whale meat.

But an international whale ban has forced the residents of Pamilacan to stop whaling.

Catching whales now could mean a fine of at least U-S dollars 200 and a jail term.

SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog)
"They just bid goodbye to the whales, because they know they will go to jail if they catch it."
SUPER CAPTION: Crispo Valeroso, Pamilacan village chief

To survive, whale hunters have shifted their attention to whalesharks.

The meat from just one whaleshark could fetch at least U-S dollars 800, depending on the size of the shark.

A hunter's day starts with this boat ride through the waters of the Bohol Sea which could take hours.

Armed with just a hook and the skill to dive in the water without any scuba gear, the diver
gets in position on the tip of the boat, ready to plunge into the water when the spotter says so.

The method is quite dangerous, but these fishermen have mastered the skill.

Nicanor Cuadra, a senior researcher of the National Museum who did a study on the lifestyle of these whale hunters, says they are one of a kind.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Unique in the sense that it's a very rare, and very unorthodox way of hunting whales. This will cost (them) their lives if they are not careful."
SUPER CAPTION: Nicanor Cuadra, Senior Researcher, National Museum

These photos show hunters after a successful dive.

It involves a long process because even after the diver is able to stab the hook into the shark's backbone, they have to wait until it weakens.

They then return to the island where all the villagers then help out with the catch.

The meat is cut into pieces and left to dry under the sun.

The most expensive part is the fin which can cost close to 20 U-S dollars a kilo. Most of the time, the fins are exported to Chinese restaurants abroad.

Since the start of the year, Pamilacan hunters have caught at least 60 whalesharks.

Because of this, some environmental groups have called on the government to include whalesharks in the ban.

But such a move could be disastrous for residents of Pamilacan like Isidro Miculob.

Now 56, he has been diving for whales since he was 15.

SOUNDBITE: (Visayan)
"If they will ban whaleshark hunting in Pamilacan, what else can we do for a living? We cannot grow corn up there in the island. And this is really the only means of livelihood we know ... fishing."
SUPER CAPTION: Isidro Miculob, Pamilacan whale hunter

At the moment, the government is studying the N-G-O proposals to include whalesharks in the ban.

Officials of the Bureau of Fisheries say they will need scientific evidence to implement such a ban, which could take years of research.

In the short term, these people can continue to earn their living from whaleshark hunting.

But for how much longer, no-one can say.

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