The Jakarta Post 4 Jul 16;
Propellers from a ship used by tourists may have been the cause of severe wounds on two whale sharks recently washed ashore in Bali.
The Bali Office for Marine, Coastal & Resources Management (BPSPL) said Monday it has studied the wounds found on the two sharks now stranded on the shore of Nusa Penida island, a resort area in Bali popular for water sports.
The sharks may have collided with a tourist boat, Yudi Permana of BPSPL said, citing the result of discussions with local figures, representatives from the tourism sector including diving operators in Nusa Penida, as well as the Lembongan Marine Association, the local unit of the Water Conversation Area and the Coral Triangle Center.
The two sharks suffered wounds on their upper body, chest, rear area and tails, Yudi said. (rin)
Two whale sharks stranded on Nusa Penida coast
Antara 4 Jul 16;
Nusa Penida (ANTARA News) - Two whale sharks were found stranded on the shore of Nusa Penida Island, which is administratively a part of Bali, despite being completely separate from the island of God.
"The whale sharks were stranded due to severe injuries inflicted by the propeller blades of a boat that crossed their path," Yudi Permana from the Coast and Sea Resources Management Hall stated in Denpasar on Monday.
Based on initial analysis, the wounds on the bodies of the sharks are rather large, raising the suspicion of them being possibly hit by a propeller blade.
A verification team had visited the scene and had held a meeting with local public figures, authorities, and tourism stakeholders in Nusa Penida.
The meeting involved representatives from the Lembongan Marine Association, dive operators, the Technical Executive Unit of the Nusa Penida Water Reservoir, as well as the Coral Triangle Center.
The meeting was held to uncover the chronology of the incident and to establish preventive measures to avoid similar incidents from recurring in future.
Both whale sharks suffered wounds on their head, pectoral fin, and tail.
"The wounds indicate that they were struck by the propeller blades of a boat," remarked Yudi.
Hence, Yudi believes that special legal and regulatory measures should be implemented in Nusa Penida as the areas tourism sector had grown at a rapid pace.
Moreover, divers and dive operators are required to abide by the diving ethics, including those related to interaction with sea creatures.
(Uu.KR-ARC/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
