Another endangered marine mammal stranded

File photo of a dwarf sperm whale beached in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte last year

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—Another endangered marine mammal was stranded near a resort at Barangay Balaoi this town at about 9 am July 3, a report said.

Arthur Valente, provincial fishery regulatory officer of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG) said a suspected melon-headed whale, measuring about 2 meters was spotted by villagers with bruises and appears to be weak.

Trained responders of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network-Ilocos Norte chapter in coordination with local officials and nearby residents in the area have gone to the area to monitor the mammal as it regained its composure.

The Provincial Agriculture Office-Fisheries Division of Ilocos Norte said rampant illegal fishing has been eyed as one of the reasons for the increasing number of stranded marine mammals along the Ilocos Norte coastline.

Since January, there are now nine marine mammal stranding recorded in Ilocos Norte.

Earlier, the PMMSN has identified Ilocos Norte as one of the hot spots of marine animal stranding in the country.

Mr. Valente said their records from 2010 showed at least 18 cases in the towns of Pasuquin, Burgos, Badoc, Currimao, Pagudpud and Bacarra and Laoag City. Of these, only seven animals were rescued and released.

Among the species found on the province’s coastline were pilot whale, spinner dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, beaked whale, Fraser’s dolphin, dwarf sperm whale, humpback whale, sperm whale, pygmy killer whale and rough-toothed dolphin.

Mr. Valente said marine animals get stranded when they flee fishermen hunting them or get sick as a result of polluted environments.

They also get stranded when they try to flee bad weather, dynamite fishing or get lost in their search for food.

Mr. Valente added cases of stranding in the past went unreported because locals were unaware about the endangered species.

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