As more dolphins, sea turtles and other friendly big sea creatures are being found beached along Lingayen Gulf’s shoreline, three organizations have banded together to embark on a mission to save them from certain death.

The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) of the Department of Agriculture in collaboration of  Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Ocean Adventure, a private organization operating in Subic, decided on an educational strategy after another dolphin found beached in San Fabian died after attempts to save it.  

The first seminar, a two-part activity, a crash course on how to provide basic “tender loving care” or first aid will be taught to residents in the coastal areas.

The first will be held in San Fabian as a highlight of the Fish Conservation Week celebration (October 15-20) and the second, an advanced course to be held about two weeks later.

After the seminar, a 10-man quick response team in each town will be trained and organized for first aid treatment and handling of beached mammals.

More than a dozen dolphins, whales and turtles found beached had died due to improper handling of the sea mammals upon discovery and the latest fatality, the wounded Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) found beached in San Fabian, became the tipping point.

As a result of the growing number of deaths, an area in the sprawling BFAR compound in Dagupan had to be designated as a cemetery for sea mammals.

The latest dolphin fatality that measured 10 feet and three inches long and six feet and six inches in its body circumference was treated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) biologists after it was turned over by the local government but it died a day later.

Dr. Westly Rosario, NFRDI executive director and also the BFAR center chief here noted that over the years, people have become more aware of the importance of saving these sea creatures and is optimistic that teaching the residents would not be difficult.

Up until about five years ago, residents were quick to slaughter the beached mammals for food or to sell as delicacy.

The launching of the education and awareness campaign was broached by Ocean Adventure representative, Mariel Buccat, on learning about the death of the dolphin.

The group’s members immediately gave the staff at the BFAR center some tips on the handling of the beach mammals.

Rosario said since they in the NFRDI and BFAR have the knowledge about dominant species in the Lingayen Gulf, when these are abundant, the gears to  be used to catch them, plus the availability of equipment, they might as well take this move in collaboration with Ocean Adventure to educate the people in different coastal areas about saving sea mammals.– EVA

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