Saturday, February 23, 2008 Marine scientists show proof of dolphins' fate
OVER 1,300 spinner dolphins take refuge at Tañon Strait encompassing Cebu and Negros.
Marine biologist Dr. Lemnuel Aragones of the University of the Philippines (UP) – Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology studied activities of marine mammals particularly dolphins and whales at Tañon Strait for years.
It turns out, spinner dolphins are like humans too. They have a daily routine.
At 7 a.m., spinner dolphins are alive at sea doing acrobatic spins. They slow down around 8 a.m. and usually do synchronized swimming at 9 a.m..
They take a rest around 10 a.m. until early afternoon and go back to doing acrobatic spins at 4 p.m.. The dolphins usually sleep at 6 p.m.
Spinner dolphins are only one of the 14 cetacean species that consider Tañon Strait their home.
This is why dolphins and whales resorted to filing a case against the oil exploration at Tañon Strait, particularly at the Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan areas.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-National Environmental Action Team (IBP-Neat) filed the suit before the Supreme Court as guardians of the marine mammals.
The high tribunal took cognizance of the case, asking the respondents to reply to the suit. Named respondents were: Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, DENR 7 Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca, and the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd., (Japex) as represented by its Philippine agent, Supply Oilfield Services.
Tañon Strait has been threatened, said Aragones, who was in Cebu yesterday to talk about the seascape as a “unique natural heritage,” as part of the country’s history.
He also presented evidence that the home of the marine mammals were disturbed during a seismic survey conducted in 2005, which paved the way to the oil exploration that started in November 2007 and ended early this month.
In 2004, there was an average of 300 dolphins that can be seen at Tañon Strait at one time. The following year, it was quite the same. But the next year, it was significantly lower, with a peak of only 275 dolphins at one time but less most of the time.
“The response of the stimulus came much later,” explained Aragones.
“Dolphins are more inclined to sounds than sights. Their hearing is very sensitive because it is tantamount to sight for humans,” he said.
The issue on Tañon Strait does not only affect the marine mammals.
During the open forum, fisherman Pedro Ferrer of Pinamungajan, talked about the fate of the fishermen during the more than two months of oil exploration.
He narrated that their fishing ground became narrow and captured fishes were few.
“We are not against it but we just hope that Japex can reimburse the livelihood lost during their activity,” Ferrer said in Cebuano.
The fisherman ended his story with a question, “Mobalik pa kaha to ang Japex (Will Japex ever return)?”
According to the Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc., Pinamungajan fishermen experienced a 50 to 70 percent drop in their daily catch during the oil exploration. JGA
