Confession #1: I have to watch Nemo so I can write this.
I was already on my Day 15 during my Mindanao Backpacking Challenge when I saw these being sold in a talipapa (public market) at Lingig, Surigao del Sur and I was flabbergasted!
Php60/Kilo only, sting ray or whale shark? Eagle ray?
I asked how much a kilo and the seller told me its only Php60/kilo (Nope, I am not going to buy). I stopped asking a follow-up question, as it will only break my heart.
I want to cry out as LOOOOOOOOOOOUD as I can, “WTF”! I really don’t know what are these but my conscience is telling me its illegal. I posted it first on my Facebook Page and it garnered different comments.
At first I thought it was a Stingray, locally known as Pagi. But then I was looking for photos online and I’m beginning to think these are fins of a Baby Whale Shark or Butanding. Or maybe a manta ray?
Eagle ray, whaleshark and Manta ray. What do you think?
Until now, I’m groping for a sure identification of this. If you know someone who can positively ID this sea creature, please let me know.
I can’t look at it for so long because I might cry.
Confession #2: Nope, I didn’t watch Nemo. I actually played some ROCK songs coz’ I’m ANGRY!
If only sea creatures can talk…
Mommy Whaleshark: Huhuhuhu. They caught my baby. Huhuhuhuhu
Daddy Whaleshark: Huhuhuhuhu. It’s hard to make another one.
Planktons (In chorus) : Oh oh…. Who will eat us now?
Mommy Whaleshark: Why are these people so angry at us? Did we do something wrong? Is there a shortage of pork and carabeef?
Daddy Whaleshark: As if the Shark’s fins are not enough, they want us too.
Turtle: Saaaaaaad…
Another Group of Planktons (In chorus) : Oh oh…. Who will eat us now?
Starfish: (Types “UNLIKE” button of Facebook)
Read this before you make a comment: I don’t blame the fishermen in Surigao on this one. I don’t know the reason(s) behind the catch. But I noticed something while I was traveling on the national highway of Surigao, at one point, there is a quarry being done in the mountain near the bay and because it was too much, the mountain eroded making the red soil reach the sea. The sea actually was brownish red because of the incessant quarrying. I believe the reason why fishermen in this area find it hard to catch some fish. I guess DENR needs to wake up on that side of the planet. I hope they can PROTECT the summits as well as our seas.
*Update: It seems like its an eagle ray as Adrien Uichico told me via Twitter. First time I heard about that name, but it looks like one.
Per a NatGeo documentary, the fin is cut from the baby shark as it is used for shark fin soup. The baby shark is then returned to the sea to bleed to death.
How sad indeed!
Dear God, this shd really stop. NOW!
amen and amen tita lili!
the picture is very sad to look at. i hated the people doing this, but when i read your explanation why the people there are killing them for food, i understood that they are just need to feed themselves to live too.
I really hope the DENR or whatever government sector that should be taking care of this to act on it soon.
IRONY! and this is just one part of the country. i wonder what happens in other islands?
This is so sad. =(
Sad. What will happen in the next decade/s?
that’s my question too! very very sad
this is heartbreaking…let’s see if doc ferdz of Born to be wild can help us ID this… post ko sa page nila ha… 🙂
thanks mervz! i really hope that they can ID this. it will break my heart if this is a butanding. kung ray, medyo makakahinga pa ako.
Fishermans of Surigao can’t also be blame on this one if this is there only source of income. I think the gov’t should do something like awareness and alt1ernative source of income for them so that this kind of unfortunate scenarios changes…
ganyan talaga dito sa mindanao. im from down south so we know things about that. sayang talaga, kaso wala tayo basta2x magawa kasi yun na yung way of life nila, isa pa the people that are suppose to be watching those things, nagpapalaki lang ng tiyan nila..tsk tsk..
so sad..
sino ba yang mga nagpapalaki ng tyan? hahaha
but do you think their way of life is right? something should change, right?
local government should help the people find alternative livelihood… 🙁
can’t agree more!
Sad, and you’re right. We could not blame solely those people who catch and sell because them It’s their life and their families against the animals. They need to feed themselves, and if they don’t know alternative ways to earn money for food, they will continue to do this until there’s nothing left.
Kinda reminds me of the captured musang we saw on our way to Mt. Arayat. I could not forget the fear in the eyes of that cat when I peeked inside the sack held by a local. They sell it as pet, or as rare delicacy.
It’s a dilemma between human and animal rights. =(
ouch! dilemma rin yun ah. it just breaks my heart to be hearing stories like this.
i think everyone needs a lesson. i just hope that nature would be patient with us humans.
Sad… 🙁
🙁 you should’ve asked. Normally yung mga fisherman, kinukuha nila yung fins tas ibinebenta sa intsik so I am not sure kung whale shark fin nga ito. Aware ang mga mangingisda sa halaga ng shark’s fin.
Nung nasa Marinduque nga kami tinanggal nila yun sabi ibebenta daw sa intsik (ibang klaseng shark ito). Tas yung ibang part mga 15 o 20 lang ang kilo…
pero whatever this is….sad sad sad.
its eagle ray. really sad.
hala… gusto kong umiyak 🙁