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The popular dolphin
watching off Pamilacan Island seawaters became a "no show."
For
three days dolphins seem to avoid the area where rampant illegal fishing has been
conducted.
Tour
guides who escorted tourists to the area confirmed to the Chronicle that they
did not see dolphins at the seawaters fronting the islet last Monday until Wednesday.
"It
was a very strange day with no dolphins seen in the area when the weather was
fine and sunny," Cecil Remolador, a DOT licensed tour guide reported.
Massive
illegal fishing has driven away the dolphins.
This
was confirmed by personnel of the Panglao Island Nature Resort in barangay Bingag,
Dauis town. They noticed dolphins off shore, coinciding those days when these
dolphins were far-off their usual "playing ground" fronting Pamilacan
Island, where tourists go to watch.
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"It is very
rare that dolphins can be seen from this resort since it is situated on the other
side of Panglao, not facing Pamilacan Island," according to resort personnel
who were surprised to see dolphins dallying offshore their resort early last week.
The
report on the sudden dwindling of dolphins off Pamilacan Island came amid mounting
complaints from islanders on the unabated presence of commercial fishing.
In
fact, Barangay Captain Teofanon Caga of Pamilacan reported that these commercial
fishing activities pose big threat to the population of these marine mammals.
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The report
on the presence of commercial fishing alarmed the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC)
which earlier sponsored the request for a patrol boat to the island. Support
for fuel fund assistance approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was also sought.
In
Resolution No. 04-2008, the barangay council of Pamilacan during their recent
session formalized their request to Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy to install a police
detachment with a patrol boat to ensure that dolphins will not be agitated.
Commercial
fishing scares the dolphins, misplacing them quite far from the area where tourists
go everyday to watch these frolicking mammals.
The
resolution of the Pamilacan council reached the PTC last Friday.
The
PTC will meet this Friday together with Rep. Edgar Chatto, chair of the house
committee on tourism, regarding this concern. This came in tandem with the urgent
need to reactivate the Bohol Marine Triangle and the Coastal Law Enforcement Council
(CLEC) following reports on destruction of some corals in Balicasag Island, Bohol's
famous dive site. | 
