Megamouth
found dead in Cagayan de Oro
BenCyrus
G. Ellorin / MindaNews / 30 January 2005
CAGAYAN
DE ORO CITY -- An endangered megamouth shark was captured and killed here
today. The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios), believed to be a female was
enmeshed in the fishing net of Sofronio Casa–ares of barangay Agusan this city
early dawn today.
Casa–ares
brought the "strange looking fish" to the shores of nearby barangay
Gusa and reported it to authorities but when the latter arrived, the megamouth
shark was already dead and people were starting to cut off pieces.
Ms.
Evie Lumingkit, officer-in-charge of the Fish Health Laboratory of the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Northern Mindanao confirmed that
the fish was indeed a megamouth shark measuring 4.17 meters and weighing
approximately 1,000 kilos.
Nelson
Gallentes, of the BFAR's Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Unit said they
will facilitate the burial of the endangered fish as provided for by fishery
laws.
The
capture, killing and slaughtering of endangered species is punishable by an
imprisonment ranging from 6 years to 12 years, said Gallentes.
He
however said the capture and killing of the megamouth shark was accidental. He
said the endangered shark was enmeshed at 20 fathoms deep and that fisherman
Casa–ares was helpless in untangling it.
Of
the 24 previously recorded megamouth finds throughout the world, two were in
Cagayan de Oro, megamouth 11 and megamouth 18. They were found on Feb. 20, 1998
and January 6, 2003, respectively.
Both
megamouths 11 and 18 were recorded to have been consumed. The latest find is
the only one in the city where the carcass was properly disposed. Fisheries
Administrative Order 208 provides that after documentation, the carcass of an
endangered marine animal should be buried.
The
recent find is perhaps the 25th in the world and the fourth in the country.
Megamouth 24 was found on Nov. 4, 2004 in Ilo-ilo.
The
first megamouth was found in Hawaii on Nov. 15, 1976.
Gallentes
said that further studies should be conducted so that the megamouth shark will
be protected.
"From the recorded findings of this endangered species, it would seem that Macajalar Bay is important to the megamouth sharks. Three of the four finds in the Philippines and 3 of the 25 finds worldwide are in Macajalar Bay," he said.