Aumentado rules 8 months of

open whaleshark interaction

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Treading on delicate waters especially with a legislated policy on sustainable marine wildlife tourism, Bohol concedes again, to the re-opening of the whaleshark interaction, but not for the year-long activity.

In fact, with six-months of annual open season for the wild marine animal interaction now specified in the ordinance’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has conceded on a sweet-spot between the option for a requested year-round operations against the IRR provision.

Citing the need to protect natural migration, respond to the seasonal marine conditions, provide biological rest, prevent habituation to human presence, support ecosystem recovery, enhance public safety and apply precautionary principles, the provincial chief executive who has been empowered to amend, decided on an eight-months of open season for marine wildlife interaction, the remaining four months, to be used to allow for the reasons he cited above.

When the whale shark interaction opened in Lila, years back, operators had a year-round operation, until the provincial government, halted the operations pending the implementation of environmental regulations and policies, all for responsible tourism by assuring ecological sustainability and wildlife conservation.

In the interim, while the local whaleshark tours operator worked on to comply with the legal requirements of a safe, environmentally compliant operations, the local Sangguniang Panlalawigan dove into legislating the IRR on the enhanced sustainable marine wildlife interaction in the province of Bohol.

From the initial IRR, the provincial government’s affirmation as stewards of its marine ecosystems stresses on activities that do not inhibit, disrupt or alter natural marine wildlife behaviour and movement while minimizing disturbance, stress, injury, disease risk, behavioural modification that impacts wildlife populations and their environment.

By this, a technical working group working on the IRR, initially recommended close and open seasons in marine wildlife interactions.

Initially, from these recommendations, the approved IRR pegged the designated marine wildlife interaction for whale sharks opened from November to May, like manta ray interactions.

This is unlike the marine interactions for cetaceans, other sharks and marine turtles which are offered year-round, according to the IRR.

However, when the IRR reached back to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the legislative body went back to the TWG to ask about the closed season.

The TWG composed of marine wildlife experts, tourism sector representatives, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, was firm in their position of a closed season from June to October.

Through Section 2 of Provincial Ordinance No 2026-004, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, in Executive Order No 18-A, picked for eight months of open season (November to July) stating that the protection, conservation and sustainable management of marine wildlife and their habitat shall be upheld as a fundamental duty and shared responsibility of Bohol, its towns, marine wildlife operators and local communities. (PIAbohol)