On Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, it issued a clarification that the endangered shark on the photo that went viral was found in the Kimud Shoal, which is not under the Municipality’s territorial jurisdiction.
“But rather it is under the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Leyte and the fishermen who caught the said thresher shark are not from the Municipality of Daanbantayan but from Leyte,” it posted on its official social media page.
The Municipal Government said the water that surrounds Malapascua Island is rich in marine biodiversity, which is why fishing in the area is strictly forbidden.
“Thresher sharks are a protected species and the Island of Malapascua is absolutely a no fishing zone or area even to our local fishermen… In fact, we have caught and prosecuted several offenders illegally fishing in our territorial waters with impunity,” the local government said.
It warned that it would go after people who post wrong information about the town.
Meanwhile, diving enthusiasts have expressed concern about the plight of the thresher sharks in Kimud Shoal and in other parts of the archipelago.
Although hunting thresher sharks is illegal in Cebu, Batangas City, Panglao in Bohol, and Palawan, they can be fished and traded legally elsewhere, according to the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines. (PJB)