NEWSROOM

Dynamite explosions scare away humpback whales in Babuyan Islands

Every summer, the coasts of Babuyan Islands reverberate with the mesmerizing songs of giant humpback whales. But this year, the songs have been replaced by dynamite blasts echoing throughout the bays, scaring off North-western Pacific humpback whales that came here to breed.

?We arrived two weeks ago for our annual humpback whale survey,? said Dr. Jom Acebes, Humpback Whale Research and Conservation Project (HWRCP) consultant for WWF, the global conservation organization.

?And we have been hearing as much as six dynamite blasts in just one hour almost everyday,? she added.

WWF reports that dynamite blasting is being done to salvage steel from five sunken shipwrecks that are all within humpback breeding grounds. The once forgotten vessels became an alternative source of income for the locals two years ago. Back then scavengers dove into the water with acetylene to cut up the metal pieces. Now they resorted to using dynamites to break up the parts, making it easier to collect the scraps.

Since 2000, WWF has been studying the frequency and abundance of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in this northern most part of the country. The conservation organization also noted that dynamite fishing has been an ongoing problem in the islands, further endangering the fragile population of whales, dolphins, the health of the coral reefs, and the local communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood.

Some shipwrecks are more than 20 years old and have become artificial reefs that serve as refuge and breeding ground for fish. Dynamiting the ships not only wards off the whales but also destroys a productive fish source.

The fisherfolks have been noticing a significant decrease in fish catch. Because both people and whales are heavily reliant on the sea as a life source, what happens to one species will also be felt by the other.

The Babuyan Islands holds the record for the area with the highest cetacean species diversity in the Philippines ? 14 out of 25. It is believed that the Babuyan Islands is the southernmost breeding ground of North-western Pacific humpbacks. They move between Japan and the Philippines to breed and give birth, then head further up to Russia and Alaska to feed.

In 2003, the local government of Cagayan created Provincial Ordinance No. 09-2003 declaring the humpback whales as protected species within the territorial jurisdiction in the province of Cagayan and providing penalties for violating this law.

The ordinance was created in recognition that the presence of the humpbacks and other sea mammals is an indication of a high quality marine ecosystem that requires vigilant protection and conservation. WWF urgently calls for the immediate enforcement of local policies and for all dangerous and illegal activities in the Babuyan Island bays stopped before more harm is done on the community and the species.

?We will continue with our whale survey until April. We are waiting for the familiar sight of mother and calf humpbacks swimming into the bay. We want them to know that this is their home too and that they are safe here,? said Acebes.

For more information please contact:

Jom Acebes, DVM
Consultant, WWF HWRCP
+63 919 3547158

Louella Beltran
Media Officer, WWF-Philippines
+63 02 9207931
lbeltran@wwf.org.ph