SP wants Bohol to ink MOA with

Balyena on whale conservation

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Bohol’s legislative body recommends for the province to sign an agreement with BALYENA.ORG, to advance the conservation and protection of marine wildlife species in Bohol waters, especially those species which have been though to be extinct, threatened of on the verge of extinction.

Owning a critical edge due to its location, Bohol seas are a home to a high marine biodiversity, has been designated as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) and marine Key Biodiversity Area (mKBA) as scientists and researchers have spotted and confirmed the presence of 19 species of cetaceans, manta rays and marine turtles.

Protecting these however has become a huge challenge for Bohol as it entails scientific know-how and other expertise that only organizations like BALYENA can provide.

According to Bohol Provincial Environment and Management Office (BPEMO), the memorandum supports Provincial Ordinance Nos. 2020-002 which created the Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Wildlife (BRUMW) and 2020-008 or the Sustainable Marine Wildlife Interaction Ordinance which both aim to preserve and protect the marine wildlife within its territories.

Other than partnerships in protection and conservation, the agreement should also facilitate the establishment and maintenance of research and conservation activities for marine mammals in Bohol Sea.

Bohol intends to have a regular vessel-based survey to monitor the occurrence of marine mammals in the area, determine its distribution, movements and seasonality of the large whales, with special focus on the pygmy Blue whale, Bryde’s whale and Omura’s whale, through photo identification and other established methods.

This way, Bohol can relaunch its support of marine wildlife stranding response, up local awareness on marine mammals and the marine ecosystem and capacitate local stakeholders on the protection and conservation of marine mammals and their habitats, through trainings, and studies.

BALYENA.ORG, Inc., a Bohol-based non-profit organization is into the conservation of cetaceans and their natural habitats in the Philippines, by participatory research, advocacy, education, and capacity development for the empowerment of local communities and relevant stakeholders.

The organization has provided baseline data for management and conservation of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the Philippines, and hopes to capacitate locals in conducting cetacean research and promote active participation in conservation by increasing the knowledge and awareness of cetaceans in the country.

In Bohol, BALYENA has been specifically monitoring the presence of the Blue whale, Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and Omura’s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) since 2010.

Due to their track record, the SP Committee on Environment chaired by Board Member Jiselle Rae Villamor recommends for the passage of a resolution authorizing Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado to represent the Provincial Government and sign the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Provincial Government and BALYENA.ORG, Inc. for the conservation and protection of marine wildlife species within Bohol waters. (PIABohol)