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Monday, January 31, 2005
Megamouth shark found dead in Oro
A MEGAMOUTH shark (Megachasma pelagios) believed to be a female was enmeshed in the fishing net of one fisherman in Barangay Agusan Sunday dawn, said to be the 25th captured and killed worldwide.
The fisherman named Sofronio Casañares brought the "strange looking fish" to the shores of nearby Barangay Gusa and reported it to authorities.
When authorities arrived, the megamouth shark was already dead and were people starting to slaughter it.
They were however stopped by authorities from doing so.
Evie Lumingkit, officer-in-charge of the Fish Health Laboratory of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) in Northern Mindanao region, confirmed the fish was indeed a megamouth shark measuring 4.17 meters and weighing approximately 1,000 kilos.
Nelson Gallentes, of the Bfar's Monitoring, Control and Surveillance unit said they will facilitate the burial of the endangered fish as provided for by fishery laws.
He said the capture, killing and slaughtering of endangered species is punishable by an imprisonment ranging from six years to 12 years.
However, after investigation, the capture and killing of the megamouth shark was accidental, Gallentes added.
Gallentes said the endangered shark was enmeshed at 20 fathoms deep and that fisherman Casañares was helpless in untangling it.
Of the 24 recorded megamouth findings throughout the world, two were found in Cagayan de Oro, megamouth 11 and megamouth 18 and Megamouth 11 in Feb. 20, 1998 and megamouth 18 in January 6, 2003.
The recent find is reportedly the 25th. Megamouth 24 was found last Nov. 4, 2004 in Iloilo.
Previous to last Sunday's find, there were only three finds in the Philippines.
The first megamouth was found in Hawaii on Nov. 15, 1976.
Both megamouths 11 and 18 were recorded to have been consumed.
This latest find is the only of the three finds in the city where the carcass was properly disposed.
Fisheries Administrative Order 208 provides that after documentation, the carcass of the endangered marine animal should be buried.
Gallentes said further studies should be conducted so that the megamouth shark will be protected.
"From the recorded findings of this endangered species, it would seem that Macajalar Bay is important to the megamouth sharks. Three of the four finds in the Philippines and 3 of the 25 finds worldwide are in Macajalar Bay," Gallentes said. (Bencyrus G. Ellorin)
(January 31, 2005 issue)
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