Donsol

Donsol

Beyond the shore

By JASER A. MARASIGAN

DONSOL, Sorsogon — This place at the southern tip of Luzon recently made a huge break in the country’s tourism when hundreds of whale sharks were spotted in its muddy but plankton-rich waters.

Whale shark spotting here became a word of mouth, passed on to every tourist exploring the Philippines. And as thousands of visitors arrive each season to swim and witness their friendly behavior, the once unheard town of Donsol, which was previously reliant to fishing and cottage industry, now benefits from higher economic revenue brought by the presence of these giant fish locally called "butanding".

These gentle giants are here all-year-round, according to representatives from World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who flew in from Hong Kong to do research on the whales sharks. But the official season starts from February to May, when these creatures are most present and the sea of Donsol is at its clearest and calmest.

Close Encounter

It was two years ago when I first went here and experienced what is called the "Butanding Interaction." I could not believe my eyes when I saw my first butanding. It was like the world stopped as the whale shark passed just a few feet beneath me. The thought of swimming with the largest fish in the world was scary, but it was fascinating and magical at the same time. It is the ultimate experience on wildlife encounters that a true nature enthusiast cannot afford to miss.

And this unique experience is offered, nowhere else, but in the waters off Sorsogon, where one can watch or interact with a butanding, some 10 to 15 of them at any one time on lucky days. Such a phenomenon cannot be found in other parts of the country, or even in other parts of the world, and WWF attests to that. The group’s findings revealed that Donsol harbors one of the highest densities of whale sharks in the world.

Donsol is now being dubbed by enormously awed and satisfied tourists as the "Whale Shark Capital of the World".

These gentle giants of the sea, considered the world’s largest fishes, measure from 15 ft. to as long as 40 ft. in length. They feature silvery polka dots all over its huge body, feeding only on plankton and krill. They are harmless and playful, allowing humans to swim with them, as they glide in the waters. And then, quietly disappear.

Local tourism officials and professional divers have established guidelines on proper whale shark watching intended to maintain safety and to defend the creatures from over exploitation.

Ecotourism Development

In 1998, in an effort to secure the financial viability, environmental sustainability and social acceptability of ecotourism, WWF, together with the LGU and the Donsol Municipal Tourism Council, implemented the Butanding Ecotourism Development Project.

A series of workshops to develop the Donsol Ecotourism Management Plan was conducted. This plan provided the biology and ecology of whale sharks, general information on whale sharks in Donsol, and impacts of and opportunities for ecotourism.

Selected members of the fishing villages were also trained to deliver highly–specialized ecotourism services. Information materials were disseminated to increase the awareness of the local community and visitors on the status of whale sharks in the Philippines. A 10-minute video presentation was produced to serve as a briefing tool for visitors who would interact with the whale sharks.

Since then, tourism here has risen tremendously over the past years, registering more than 100 percent growth in tourist arrivals.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that, "One of the reasons that tourism has been one of the biggest and competitive industries in many parts of the world is the value tourists place on indigenous culture and pristine attractions. It is therefore essential that development efforts for the countryside be on a sustainable basis."

Conservation

Whale sharks are considered to be sensitive to exploitation due to low reproductive rates, long gestation periods, slow growth and late maturity.

Recognizing the biological vulnerability of the species, legal protection for the species was enacted in at least 11 countries, including the Philippines. The LGU of Donsol also enacted an ordinance declaring its municipal waters as whale shark sanctuary.

Ecotourism based on whale shark watching is pursued in many parts of the world as alternative to fisheries. Non-consumptive use of the species through ecotourism is seen as the most sustainable practice and is already a million-dollar industry in many countries, particularly Australia, Seychelles,

Mexico, Honduras and other Caribbean countries.

"With all its natural diversity, beautiful mountainous interior, wide azure sea, and the friendly butandings, Donsol can definitely make it as one of the world’s most important international travel destinations. But it is important, too, that we have to strike a balance between bringing in tourists and protecting and preserving the whale shark habitat," said Durano.

"The local government, through the help of Mayor Salve Ocaya, together with the World Wildlife Fund, is helping preserve Donsol’s rich biodiversity," he said. Adding that, "The islanders who call this home and the travelers who flock here, owe it to themselves to help sustain its beauty."

World Wildlife Fund

The urgency of the country’s environmental situation prompted the establishment of WWF-Philippines, also known as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (KKP). Its ultimate mission is to stop, and eventually reverse the accelerating degradation of the natural environment and to help build a future in which Filipinos live in harmony with nature. Its goal is the conservation of biodiversity, focused sharply on that of the sea.

We all have a responsibility in sustaining nature, because in the end, nature sustains us. So when we travel, it is up to us to sustain, not destroy it.