20 dolphins beached, 10 found dead
SOMEONE tried to kill and butcher the dolphins that were sighted off the Lingayen Gulf. But who?
This question arose after 20 wounded dolphins were found beached in several areas along the shoreline of Lingayen to Aringay in La Union. Ten eventually died from their wounds believed to have been inflicetd by spears.
One is presently being treated for its serious wound at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) based in Dagupan City.
Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Technology Center (NIFTDC)-BFAR was aghast on seeing the injuries inflicted on the friendly sea creatures, all bottle-nosed dolphin species, from the hands of unscrupulous individuals who obviously wanted to cash in on the sale of the dolphin meat.
He said he received reports of sightings and beached dophins by phone Tuesday.
Five dolphins were initially sighted along the coastal area in Aringay, La Union Monday afternoon but one died, while another one was taken away by an unidentified individual and three were released back to the sea.
Another dolphin was found dead along the coastal water off Barangay San Isidro Norte, Binmaley town and another in Tondaligan Beach in Dagupan City yesterday morning.
Rosario also received an urgent call from Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez Tuesday informing him that four dolphins beached in Barangay Pugaro. One was given first aid treatment by the City Veterinarian Office before it was released back to the sea with the other three that were only slightly injured.
Another caller informed him that three dolphins were sighted at the back of the Capitol area in Lingayen. But one died and was taken away by an unnamed private person and the other one released back to the sea while the third one was taken to the BFAR center for treatment of its wounds.
Another dolphin was also spotted along the coastal waters in Alaminos City while two more were seen in Sual town.
“The dolphins were massacred,” Rosario said, adding that they all bore wounds. He said their wounds are still fresh, with blood still oozing from their bodies
Rosario said he believes the wounds were inflicted not by small fishermen but by commercial fishermen who spotted the pod of dolphins.
Sometime in 2001, a pod of 11 dolphins was also seen in the coastal area of Barangay Sabangan this city, Rosario said. This is the second time but with a difference – they bore fresh wounds.
The three dolphins that died were eventually buried at the BFAR Fish Cemetery and one is being treated preparing for its release.
Rosario said usually a pod of dolphins swim together. The ones seen in Lingayen Gulf are bottle-nosed dolphins, he said.
He warned that those responsible for the indiscriminate spearing of the dolphins face imprisonment of 12 years to 20 years and/or a fine of P120,000 plus forfeiture of the catch and the cancellation of fishing permit. (Tita Roces/Leonardo Micua)
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