MANILA, Sept. 3 - Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap commended recently six local divers who successfully freed a 17-foot long whale shark 'trapped' for more than a week in the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) port in Mabini, Batangas last August 25.

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus), locally known as 'butanding' was seen swimming around in a wharf inside the port area since August 15 according to PNOC Port Manager Bel H. Macalincag. He said this is not the first time a 'butanding' was seen in the wharf although this is the biggest of the three other fishes spotted at different times this year. The said fish, nicknamed 'Pol,' after Apolinario Mabini, was also the longest-staying.

Marine experts from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), CI or Conservation International-Philippines and WWF-Philippines all agreed waters in the area teem with planktons and small fishes which are the main food of the whale sharks. The first attempt to release 'Pol' was last August 20, five days from its 'confinement' in the area by 13 volunteer divers led by BFAR master diver Pierre Velasco. However, the operation failed.

“We tried to guide the fish but it didn’t work as the fish was just too quick and smart for us - it either went up or under the human-wall formation we made in our effort to drive it out of the wharf," Velasco said. Aware of the dangers of prolonged diving or an accidental blow from its huge tail, as well as the possibility of posing serious stress to the fish, BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento Jr. decided to halt the rescue operation, praying the animal will move out of the area by itself. Exactly 10 days from its 'confinement,' 'Pol' was successfully freed by a joint team of divers from BFAR, CI-Philippines and WWF-Philippines on August 25.

The four BFAR divers and 2 volunteers from Donsol undertook free-diving maneuvers, which are more dangerous but believed to be less stressful or agitating to the animal as this activity minimizes unnecessary surface disturbances. The divers first conducted underwater documentation and assessed the physiological state of the fish to determine any changes on its body since it was first observed in August 19. Afterwards, the four divers positioned themselves at the two possible exit points of the wharf. The Donsol divers, experienced in diving with the gentle giants, were tasked to guide the fish to the exit point by swimming near its head. After several attempts, the fish was finally blocked by the divers who positioned themselves at the top and bottom of the shore-side corner of the wharf while the Donsol divers led 'Pol' on its way out of the PNOC port. The team of BFAR divers was headed by Velasco and advanced open water divers Marlo Demo-os, Joeren Yleaña and Alvaro Tana III. The two volunteer divers from Donsol, Sorsogon who are also experts in spotting whale sharks, are Raymundo Nepomuceno and Florante Trinidad who assisted BFAR in this first-ever successful attempt to rescue/free a stranded whale shark. The Donsol divers were brought in by Romeo Trono, Country Executive Director of CI-Philippines Yap, together with Sarmiento, commended the divers for unselfishly lending their expertise in freeing the whale shark despite the risks involved in the operations.

He also lauded the support provided by Lory Tan of WWF-Philippines, Romeo Trono of CI-Philippines, Dr. Lem Aragones of University of the Philippines and Rosario del Mundo, Provincial Fishery Officer representing the local government of Batangas province. Sarmiento said the 'butanding' is a male fish owing to the presence of a clasper in the underside of its body. 'Pol' is still a 'baby' fish as it is still on its juvenile stage. Unlike dolphins which needed maternal care after birth, whale sharks are already independent after birth and can survive if they find an appropriate habitat. Sarmiento also said sightings of whale sharks in Mabini and in other coastal waters of Batangas, as reported by fishermen, indicate the marine environment there is good with abundant food that attracts big fishes like whale sharks. He believes improvement in the environmental health of waters of Batangas stemmed out from numerous fish sanctuaries and marine reserves established in the last decade under BFAR’s Fisheries Resource Management Project in cooperation with the LGUs.