Delfin Mallari Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 Feb 08;
LUCENA CITY – Once a marine habitat ruined by destructive fishing practices, the Tayabas Bay off Quezon and Batangas provinces is now a safe haven for endangered sea turtles, locally called the “pawikan.”
Its 16-kilometer coastline in Lucena City, Sariaya town and the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon and in San Juan town in Batangas are the favorite nesting sites of the gentle creatures, according to Zenaida Bernal, community coordinator of the Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) coastal and marine program.
Last week, residents of Lucena’s coastal village of Barra released into the sea more than 50 Hawksbill hatchlings. Barra used to harbor fishermen engaged in dynamite fishing.
“The experience was glorifying,” village chair Elmer Adversario told local journalists. “It was the first time that I witnessed baby turtles racing back to the sea.”
The nesting site, which contains some 100 eggs, was accidentally discovered by children. “The entire village all served as guardians to the turtle eggs until they were hatched. Unfortunately, some of the eggs got spoiled,” Adversario said.
According to Bernal, the presence of the “pawikan” indicates a balanced marine ecosystem. To fishermen, it also meant a school of fish in the vicinity,
Since the TK launched the “Save the Endangered Species Campaign” in 2003, more than a hundred turtles have been released, Bernal said. “More reports have been reaching us that endangered marine creatures had been found and eventually released by fishermen,” she said.
On Dec. 28 last year, a Hawksbill was freed by fishermen off Macalelon town.
Last week, a four-meter juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon typus), locally known as “butanding,” was also rescued after getting trapped in a “baklad” (fish pen) in Macalelon.
Aware that it is endangered, local fishermen freed the whale shark. “To the delight of the coastal residents, the creature came back the next day and was spotted feeding on plankton in the shallow area of the Tayabas Bay,” Glenn Forbes, TK coastal and marine program officer, said.
Citing popular belief among the villagers, Forbes said the appearance of the “butanding” meant a bountiful fish catch. “A good and encouraging sign for 2008,” he said.
Five whale sharks were spotted in different areas of the bay last year.
The Tayabas Bay now has 22 fish sanctuaries which are rich spawning grounds, he said. He attributed the bay’s rehabilitation to the partnership initiated between the TK and businessman-environmentalist Proceso Alcala eight years ago. Alcala is now a congressman representing Quezon.
Forbes, however, lamented that some local officials were undermining efforts to protect and rehabilitate the water body. “It’s really depressing, considering the bright prospects ahead,” he said. He declined to identify the officials.
In some instances, he said, the officials did not give priority to the program because the volunteer watchmen were not political allies.
