A total of 85 fishers were interviewed in the five main study sites. All were municipal fishers operating motorised or non-motorised boats of less than 3t gross weight. The majority were fishing full-time using traditional gears, such as single or multiple hook and lines, troll lines, long lines, jigger, gillnets (set, drift or pamo), fish traps, fish
Table 1. Whale shark and manta ray fishery sites in Visayas and Mindanao, Philippines.
Fishery sites Visayas
Bohol
Baclayon (Brgy.Pamilacan I.) OR Garcia-Hernandez AD
Jagna AD Panglao AD Cebu
Argao AD Caseres AD Oslob AD Santander AD Negros Oriental
Amlan AD
Dauin (Brgy. Apo I.) AD Siaton AD
Siquijor Siquijor AD Villanueava AD Mindanao
Camiguin I.
Catarman (Brgy. Looc) OR Mahinog (Brgy. Mantigue 1.) AD Sagay (Brgy. Balite) OR Sagay (Brgy. Manuyog) OR Davao Oriental
Mati (Sitio Tagdodo) AD Davao (Samal I.) AD Misamis Occidental
Dapitan (Brgy. Aliguay I.) AD Dapitan (Brgy. Selinog I.) AD Dipolog AD
Lopez-Jaena AD (Brgy Katipa) AD Lopez-Jaena AD (Brgy. Puntod) AD Plaridel (Brgy. Dukaling) AD Plaridel (Brgy. Kauswagan) AD Plaridel (Brgy. Looc) AD Plaridel (Brgy. Poblacion) AD Plaridel (Brgy. Usocan) AD Misamis Oriental
Balingoan AD Kinoguitan AD Libertad AD Salay AD
Sugbong-cogon AD
Talisayan (Sitio Guiwanon) OR Surigao del Norte
Surigao (Dinagat I.) AD
Legend: AD = newly identified site; I = incidental catch only only, unconfirmed fishery; RC = recent; T-SC = traditional,
Targeted Elasmobrancr Primary
whale sharks T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC whale sharks INA whale sharks UC whale sharks UC whale sharks UC whale sharks UC whale sharks I mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas MUC mantas I
mantas T-SC mantas LS, T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC whale sharks RC whale sharks UC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC mantas T-SC whale sharks INA whale sharks RC whale sharks RC whale sharks INA whale sharks RC whale sharks T-SC whale sharks UC
INA = inactive whale shark fishery; LS
species Secondary
mantas T-SC, others T-SC others T-SC
others T-SC
mantas, others UC mantas, others UC mantas, others UC mantas, others UC
others T-SC others MUC
whale sharks T-SC, others T-SC whale sharks LS,, others T-SC whale sharks T-SC, others T-SC whale sharks T-SC, others T-SC
others T-SC
whale sharks INA; others T-SC others T-SC
whale sharks RC, others T-SC others T-SC
others T-SC others T-SC others T-SC others T-SC
whale sharks RC, others T-SC
= landing site; MR = major study site; MUC = market still continuing; UC = unconfirmed fishery; OR = original sites identified.
corral or spear gun (Table 2). The majority of these fishers had been catching pelagic or demersal fishes during most of the year, using one or more type of gears per trip. Some shift to manta rays and/or whale sharks seasonally, using specific gears. Gears used for catching whale sharks and mantas tend to reflect geographic differences in fishing operations, practices and preferences.
Visayas
The most important elasmobranch fishery in the country is in Brgy. Pamilacan Island, Baclayon (Bohol), where about 240 fishers primarily target whale sharks (locally known as balilan) and also manta and/or devilfishes (locally known as sanga, salanga or pagi). Fishers interviewed (n
= 39 respondents) used relatively more efficient and larger
outrigger boats, 8-16m in length, fitted with 80-120 horsepower Japanese diesel truck engines, and with a gross tonnage of 0.2-2.7t.
The primary gear type used by Bohol whale shark hunters was the gaff hook or steel hook, locally known as pilak, gansu, or kawil pangbalilan. The gaff hook and its use were described in detail by (Dolar et al. 1994, Perez 1995, WWF-Philippines Programme 1996 and Alava et al. 1997). For the 1997 season, about 26 functional units were used. In 1993, only 18 units were reported (Alava et al. 1997).
The gaff hook has also been used to catch elasmobranchs (rays Manta and Mobula. and Dasyatis spp. and sharks in general) and teleosts (big jacks or Caranx spp., dugso or lethrinids). This gear was also traditionally used to catch whales and dolphins (Dolar et al. 1993). Hand spears or harpoons are also used to catch whale sharks and were more prevalent in Mindanao; only two units were reported in Pamilacan. Sixty-eight whale sharks were landed in Pamilacan in 1997. Incidental takes of whale sharks in Pamilacan were also reported for pamo drift gillnets (3 units) in previous years.
Single incidental catches of whale sharks were reported in some parts of the Visayas by other gears: purse seine in Amlan, Negros Oriental (Uypitching, pers. comm.), and fish corral in Buyuan.Tigbauan (Fernandez 1997). Amlan has had numerous sightings of whale sharks off their shores in previous years.
Other efficient gears for sharks and rays in Pamilacan, as confirmed from on-site monitoring, were: long lines (for Squalus sp.), hook and line (Alopias spp, Manta and Mobula spp.), and gillnets (Mobula spp., Alopias spp., other sharks). Set gillnets were the primary gears used in direct manta takes in most sites in Visayas (Apo Island, Pamilacan Island, Jagna, Garcia-Hernandez and Siaton).
Visits to Bohol fish markets (Jagna, Garcia-Hernandez, Baclayon, Tagbilaran) indicated common selling of dried manta meat, suggesting heavy fishing pressure on mantas.
The size of the manta fishery was unknown. The manta fishery seems to be traditional, with some people claiming that the operation started way back in the 1800s.
A manta of over 9m was reportedly entangled in the retrieving lines of five large fish traps (or bobô) at Tulapos, Enrique Villanueva (Siquijor), in June 1996.
Table 2. Type and number of gears in the five primary whale shark and/or manta fishery sites in central Visayas and northern Mindanao based on interviews conducted in February-March
Gear type
Number of respondents Hand equipment Gaff hook
Harpoon/metal spear Spear gun
Hook/lines Hook and line Jigger
Multiple hook and line Sagiwsiw
Nets
Bottom set gill net Drift gill net Gill net
Ring net - pangpagi Scoop net - pangsanga Set net
bangkaw, ise, pamilac, pangtawiki pamana
bira-bira, pamahawin, pamingwit, panonton, pasol, sapang aranyas, pangnokos
palangre, panubid, panulingan, pasol, panglahoy
sagiwsiw
panamaw, pukot pamo, palaran
palaran, pamo, pangsolid, panulingan, pukot
Key: [ ] estimated numbers of units per gear, as reported by key persons in the area:
Pamilacan
1997. (N = 85 respondents).
Sites total
fishers may have more than one gear at any time.
Total
Mindanao
The second most important whale shark fishery is in Sitio Guiwanon, Talisayan (Misamis Oriental), where about 40 fishers (n = 16 respondents) are directly involved.
Generally, Mindanao fishers used smaller and less efficient boats. In Talisayan, boat sizes range from 6 to 10m in length, with 5-16 horsepower Kohler or Briggs and Stratton engines, and a gross tonnage of 0.2-1.5t (Table 3).
Figure 1. Primary fishing gears used in whale shark hunting in the Bohol Sea: (A) gaff hook; (B and C) handspear/harpoon. (From Trono, 1996.)
Whale sharks (locally known as tawiki, toki or toki-toki) were hunted by Mindanao fishers primarily with a hand spear or harpoon (locally called ise or bangkaw) (Dolar et al. 1994, WWF-Philippine Programme 1996, Alava et al. 1997). A total of 24 hand spear/harpoon units were reported: 12 units for Talisayan, and 12 units for Sagay.
In previous years, harpoon catches other than whale sharks were of small- to medium-sized reef or reef-associated finfishes. Common catches were balo or belonids, katambak or lethrinids, danggit or siganids, lapu-lapu or serranids, molmol or scarids, nokos or squids. There was no report of manta catches using harpoons in Talisayan.
Another whale shark gear type reported being used in Talisayan was the gaff hook (5 units), as used in Pamilacan.
About 37 whale sharks were directly taken between February and May 1997 using harpoon and/or gaff hook.
One was trapped in a fish corral in September 1997.
Other gears used for elasmobranchs were multiple hook and line (7 units) for mantas and long line (3 units) for lahoy or dogfish (Squalus spp.).
Other fisheries
The third most important traditional whale shark fishery is Sagay, Camiguin (Balite, n = 9 respondents; Manuyog, n = 12 respondents), where 55 of the 632 municipal fishers take both whale sharks and mantas. About 25 elasmobranch fishers were reported in Balite and 30 in Manuyog. Most boats were small (6-10m) and non-motorised, carrying gears that normally target smaller demersal species during the off-season. The engine capacity of motorised boats was about 5-16 horsepower (Table 3).
The primary whale shark hunting gear used in these sites was the hand spear (Balite = 6 units, Manuyog = 6 units) which caught other species also, such as sanga or pantihan (Manta and Mobula spp.), iho (unclassified
Figure 2. Comparative data on 1990-1997 catches of whale shark in Pamilacan (PAM) and Guiwanon (GUI).
Table 3. Fishers classification and fishing vessel characteristics in fishery sites in central Visayas and northern Mindanao based on March 1997.
Classification of fishers Full Part
Fishery site time time Total M NM Total Pamilacan I., Baclayon, Bohol
(N = 39)
Guiwanon, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental (N = 16)
Balite, Sagay, Camiguin (N = 10)
Manuyog, Sagay, Camiguin (N = 8)
Looc, Catarman, Camiguin (N = 12)
Hp = Horsepower of motorised boats; m = metres; M = motorised; N = number of respondents; NM [ ] = values in brackets are estimated number of fishers reported by key persons in some areas; * =
the five primary whale shark/manta interviews conducted in February-Fishing vessel Gear used for WS/M characteristics prjmary Secondary
Hp Length gear gear 80-120 8-16m
= non-motorised; WS/M = whale shark and/or manta;
estimated number of fishers involved in WS/M fishing.
sharks) and baelena (whales). Also used for elasmobranchs in these sites were bottom-set gillnets (for sanga, scarids, siganids and squids) and drift gillnets (for whale sharks as well as scombrids).
In Catarman, Camiguin (Looc, n = 9 respondents), 40 fishers were primarily involved in the manta fishery. Most boats were small, as in Talisayan, with engine power of 10-16 horsepower; five boats were reported to have engines with a capacity of 80-85 horsepower (Table 3). These boats carried gillnets (locally known as pukot, pang-pagi, pananga, palaran or pamanaw) fabricated from nylon cord, with mesh sizes of up to 60cm. Gillnet catch was predominantly of sanga or pantihan (rays), followed in decreasingdominance by tulingan or pidlayan (scombrids), dugso (lethrinids), liplipan (marlins), iho (sharks) and dolphins.
In Mantigue Island (in Mahinog, Camiguin), transient Pamilacan hunters landed at least six whale sharks in February-March 1997. In one observation day, 22 mantas were landed at the island by fishers from Pamilacan and Camiguin using gillnets.
In most of the recently developed whale shark fishery sites in Mindanao, old fishing vessels and gears are still used. The usual small-scale demersal and pelagic fishery shifted toward the novel and large-scale whale shark fishery.
The shift was often instigated by enterprising brokers.
According to one source, whale shark hunting was introduced to small-scale fishers in Tagdodo, Mati (Davao Oriental), by artisans from Guiwanon (Talisayan).
Guiwanon hunters were hired and brought to the site by the manager of the brokering company. The Guiwanon hunters conducted the initial hunting operations in the area, accompanied by some Tagdodo fishers. Towards the end of the whale shark season, the Tagdodo fishers
conducted local operations using four municipal boats, with 4-5 persons per boat. About eight additional people were involved in processing, making a total of 24–28 fishers involved in the fishery.
One ethnic minority tribe in Samal Island (Davao) was reported to have landed a whale shark in mid-October 1997 (Dy pers.comm.). The fishing population, history and status are unknown as yet.
In Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental, Surigao brokers instigated the whale shark fishery. These brokers managed to convince local fishers (e.g. in Kinoguitan) to request a mayor's permit to operate whale shark fishing in their waters. A letter from the Office of the Department of Interior and local governments allowing such practice was reportedly shown to the mayor. In the absence of a national law protecting the animals, the request was granted. Prior to the request, the mayor was getting involved in a whale shark awareness group in Mindanao (Mindanao Marine Wildlife Watch). As of February 1997, two whale sharks were caught by the Kinoguitan hunters and were landed in Guiwanon. According to some fishers, the same brokers also promoted a new whale shark fishery in Surigao del Norte.
In Libertad, Misamis Oriental, one whale shark landing in February 1997 was monitored by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Region 10 (Canete pers. comm.). Additional details were not available.
In Misamis Occidental, preliminary interviews revealed a predominantly manta and/or devilfish fishery. Whale sharks, however, were landed last March in Katipa in March 1997, one individual in Lopez-Jaena in May, and four individuals in Usocan, Plaridel, using the gaff hook.
The use of gaff hooks in catching whale sharks suggests a strong influence of the Bohol hunters on local fishers.
Some Pamilacan hunters who extend their fishing operations to Misamis Occidental waters may alternate as buyers or brokers of whale sharks and/or manta rays.
Among 12 fishers interviewed in Lopez-Jaena (Puntod, n
= 9; Katipa, n = 3), one revealed owning two gaff hooks.
In Plaridel, five units were reported among 19 fishers interviewed. Assuming one gaff hook is assigned to only one boat, seven boats with 3-4 people per boat suggests at least 21 28 fishers involved, potentially, in direct whale shark fishery.
Gears used in catching mantas were pukot, panamaw, or pamantihan (gillnets) and palangre (long line). About 60-70 manta fishers were reported for Lopez-Jaena. In Plaridel, at least 29 panamaw (manta gillnets) were reported within barangays Usocan, Dukaling, Kauswagan, Looc and Poblacion, with at least 100 fishers involved. The oldest fisher interviewed could remember manta fishing operations from as early as 1947.