Photo: Dr. Jeneveve Sulliva, via Friends of PMMSN – Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Facebook

Philippines: Beached Pilot Whale rescued in Ilocos Norte
6th December 2017;

Authorities rescued a female Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) found beached in Currimao, Ilocos Norte.

At about 6:00 a.m., coastal residents in Salugan village tried to get near the stranded marine mammal but due to strong winds, it was drifted to the sandy shores of Barangay Victoria, in front of the Sitio Remedios Resort in Currimao town.

The locals reported the incident to concerned authorities, responders for endangered marine mammals in the province immediately proceeded to the area to rescue the stranded whale.

One of the responders, Provincial Fisheries and Regulatory Officer Arthur Valente, said in an interview that the endangered marine animal is now recovering. “She can now float while supportive care is being administered,” he said of the Whale.

Valente added that the responders are still doing their best to stabilize the stranded marine animal before they can release it back to the open sea.

Representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, local government units, village officials, Philippine Maritime, fisherfolk community and the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network based in the province are jointly conducting monitoring of the stranded Whale.

Based on initial assessment, Valente said the Pilot Whale appeared to be stressed and had bruises around the face.

Over the years, Ilocos Norte has been considered as one of the hot spots for stranded marine mammals, with a number of them successfully rehabilitated and released.

Source: PageOne.ph

https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineMarineMammalStrandingNetwork/photos/pcb.1367257206718559/1367257123385234/

https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineMarineMammalStrandingNetwork/photos/pcb.1367257206718559/1367257173385229/

https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineMarineMammalStrandingNetwork/photos/p.1367291223381824/1367291223381824/

Photos: Dr. Jeneveve Sulliva

A 3.85 m adult female Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) stranded in Gaang Bay, Currimao, Ilocos Norte this morning. The animal was released but restranded. PMMSN 1 lead by BFAR 1, LGU-Currimao, PVO and OPAG of Ilocos Norte, Brgy. VIctoria officials and fisherfolks are attending to the animal.

Source: Friends of PMMSN – Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Facebook

Update, 6th December 2017 16:43

We regret to inform everyone that this Pilot Whale died early this morning. Necropsy is currently being conducted by Dr. Jeneveve Suliva and her team from the PVO of Ilocos Norte.

Source: Friends of PMMSN – Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Facebook

Photo: Dhanjorvan Rasay

A male female Pilot Whale stranded in Brgy Victoria, Currimao, Ilocos Norte this morning. It is now being inspected by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Picture and report by Dhanjorvan Rasay.

Source: Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines Facebook

Philippines: BFAR: No fish kill in Pangasinan

By Leonardo Micua, 7th October 2017;

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has denied the occurrence of a fish kill in Sual Bay here early this week, saying it was the result of overstocking of Milkfish (Chanos chanos) fingerlings by operators.

BFAR Region 1 (Ilocos) Director Nestor Domenden said Friday two operators overstocked their cages, each one measuring 85 square meters, with 85,000 fingerlings, although it can only accommodate 45,000.

There are estimated 750 fish cages in the Sual Bay area, Domenden said.

Up to 30 metric tons of fish reportedly died from this episode, which was the result of the thinning of dissolved oxygen needed by the fish in the water, the BFAR official said.

Fish kill is commonly caused by pollution or by other contaminants.

Domenden said when an operator overstocks his cage twice the allowable number, some of the fish would naturally die as they compete for the only available dissolved oxygen in the water.

It was fortunate that the affected operators were able to harvest half of their fish before the incident, he said.

Domenden called on the local government of Sual, Pangasinan to strictly monitor the operations of fish cages to avoid a repeat of overstocking of fingerlings.

He noted that Sual had a standing municipal ordinance recommending the proper stocking of fish cages, yet it was disregarded by the two affected operators.

According to a report, the fish cages of Sual, located in a mariculture area designated by BFAR, are owned by local and foreign corporations.

All of these have a combined production of some 300,000 metric tons of fish yearly, being sold in North and Central Luzon and Manila.

Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue has confirmed the findings of BFAR that no fish kill happened in his town.

Source: Northbound Philippines News Online

Philippines: BFAR: No fish kill in Pangasinan

A dead Green Sea Turtle
Photo: Allan Macatuno/Inquirer Central Luzon

Philippines: Sea turtle found dead in Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands
By Yolanda Sotelo, 9th February 2017;

A Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), with a piece of nylon net and a hook in its mouth, was found dead at the Hundred Islands National Park on Wednesday (Feb. 8).

The Turtle was discovered near the cages of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Broodstock Development Center at 4 p.m., said the agency’s employee Mae Ann Maningning.

BFAR Veterinarian Samantha Licuden said the hook in its mouth might have killed the sea creature. She said the Turtle could have been dead for two to three days before its discovery.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

A Dolphin that washed ashore in Ilocos Norte died on Monday

Philippines: Dolphin with shark bites dies in Ilocos Norte
By Dennis Agcaoili, 7th November 2016;

A Dolphin that washed ashore in Barangay San Lorenzo, Bangui, Ilocos Norte died on Monday.

The Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), measuring 2.6 meters in length and weighing 150 kg, was found to have injuries on its body last Saturday.

Provincial regulatory fishery officer Arthur Valente said the Dolphin’s body showed evidence of shark bites and cuts caused by rocks.

Authorities were closely monitoring the Dolphin’s condition because it displayed no signs of buoyancy and was very weak.

The Dolphin was supposed to be released as soon as it reached a stable condition. It died Monday morning.

Source: ABS-CBN News

https://www.facebook.com/bomboradyolaunion/photos/pcb.1549319238427484/1549318988427509/

https://www.facebook.com/bomboradyolaunion/photos/pcb.1549319238427484/1549318985094176/

A carcass of a Sea Turtle, apparently found in San Fernando. This is a different carcass from the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) found at Barangay Canaoay. The photos of this badly decomposing carcass don’t show the head very clearly, but the edge of the carapace does not look serrated, nor do the scutes appear to be overlapping, suggesting that this was a Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Source: Bombo Radyo La Union Facebook

Photo: BIAG – Barangay Information & Activities Group

Philippines: Dead Sea Turtle found in La Union
By Carmela Jimenez, 3rd November 2016;

The carcass of an adult Olive Ridley Sea Turtle was found floating along the shore of Barangay Canaoay, San Fernando City in La Union Tuesday afternoon.

According to Rolando Cunanan, he was about to take a bath at the beach when he saw the Turtle.

“Pagpunta ko doon, gumanon ‘yung alon, nakita ko pawikan. Nakita ko ulo, sabi ko, patay na ‘to kako,” he said.

(When I went there, I saw the turtle. When I saw its head, I knew it’s dead.)

The Turtle weighed between 35 to 45 kilograms. It also had a wound on its head.

The residents believe that the Turtle got entangled in fishing gear. They later buried the dead Turtle.

On October 31, a male Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) was also washed up the shores in the same area. The residents tried to take it back to the water but it still died.

Based on the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Database collated and analyzed by the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) in the University of the Philippines Diliman, there were already 19 species of stranded cetaceans (Dolphins and Whales) recorded in Region 1.

Authorities told the public to handle marine mammals with caution. If in doubt, call authorities who have knowledge in rescuing stranded marine mammals.

Source: ABS-CBN News

The photo shared on the Barangay Information & Activities Group’s Facebook page, stated to be from Canaoay, shows that the one mentioned in the article is not an Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), but a Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Workers of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources bring a dead Fraser’s Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) to its grave at the Fish Cemetery in Dagupan City.
Willie Lomibao

Philippines: Ilocos region top PH hot spot for sea mammal stranding
2015 was the worst year so far, with 112 trapped, according to marine biology expert
By Yolanda Sotelo, 11th October 2016;

At dawn on Oct. 6, a Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra) died right after it was taken from intensive care in a facility in Alaminos City. Hours later, a weak Rough-toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis) (Actually a Spinner Dolphin) (Stenella longirostris) was found beached off Santo Domingo town in Ilocos Sur province.

The two incidents occurred on the first day of a national symposium on marine mammals here, as if to emphasize the need to enhance sea environment protection to shield these animals from harm.

The Ilocos region is a hot spot in marine mammal stranding, topping all regions in the last 11 years. A total of 692 stranding incidents have been recorded since 2005, most involving Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris).

Worst year

Last year was the worst so far for animal stranding, with 112 marine mammals trapped or stranded, said Dr. Lemuel Aragones, president of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

There are several reasons marine mammals go to the beach. A 2010 study made by Aragones shows that sudden explosions from dynamite fishing give sea animals “acoustic trauma.”

Sea mammals, like Whales, navigate by sending out sound pulses to find prey and determine their surroundings. When they lose their hearing, they lose their way, Aragones said.

Some animals suffer injuries because of fishing activities. Dolphins have been tangled in fishing nets or gears. Biotoxins and human interaction are also cited as reasons for the stranding.

But the Philippines also has a high rate of live stranding, a reference to sea animals who survive their ordeal at the shore.

Records show 65 percent of beached marine mammals were alive. Of the 692 stranded sea mammals in 11 years, 418 lived. A total of 187 survivors were released back to the sea after receiving supportive care.

“Globally, two or three sea animals are dead when they get to shore,” Aragones said.

Dramatic decline

This year, stranding cases have slid down dramatically, with only 51 beached sea animals recorded as of Oct 6.

Thirteen of these animals were found or treated in the Ilocos region.

The PMMSN said it has a 27 percent success rate in the rehabilitation of stranded marine mammals. The group has no funding, Aragones said, and is dependent on member agencies to subsidize projects to save sea animals.

The group said all regions should have a speed boat that would serve as an animal ambulance that could carry 3-meter long Dolphins and Whales. The Ilocos region has such an ambulance, which can be filled with water and is equipped with a stretcher.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Photo: Apple Amor

“Matt”, the Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) that stranded last October 6 in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur was transferred to the BFAR 1 field office in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur using their newly fabricated marine mammal ambulance. Rehab efforts are led by BFAR 1 and PVO of Ilocos Sur.

Source: Friends of PMMSN – Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network