Probe set on carving up of dead whale in Sorsogon

SORSOGON CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will send a team to investigate the reported slaughter of the Bryde's whale found off the coast of Barcelona town in Sorsogon province. Santiago Noblefranca, officer-in-charge of the BFAR regional office, said Friday that the agency has ordered an inquiry into residents’ "feeding frenzy" after officials from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-DENR and the Provincial Agriculture Office-Fishery Section left the area. The environment officials had left after an agreement with local officials to bury the dead whale towed by fishermen to Barcelona's coast. Also known as the baleen whale, the dead mammal was estimated to be 42 feet long and weighed seven tons. Tristan Paylado, head of BFAR's stranding team, pointed out that Fishery Administrative Order 208 bans the taking of endangered species for human consumption. Paylado said the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species states that whales and other similar species should not be eaten to discourage further slaughter of the animal. He said even the chopping of the whale into chunks as what was done in Barcelona should not have been allowed. Paylado cited an incident in Ragay, Camarines Sur wherein a 30-foot long Sperm whale was also found dead. He said that that whale was burned whole and the bones taken to the BFAR laboratory for scientific study. Earlier, Barcelona Mayor Salvador Nee Estuyee said that he allowed the taking of whale parts by residents rather so that it would not go to waste. Noblefranca said they would await the report of the investigating team before deciding on what action to take against those found to have made violations. Annabelle Barquilla, chief of the environment department’s coastal and marine management section, said they were dismayed that Barcelona town officials allowed residents to "slice off" parts of the whale despite their agreement that it would be buried. Local radio reports said the whale meat was also sold in other towns by some fish traders. -GMANews.TV