These dolphins were chanced upon Tañon Strait by underwater photography expert Danny Ocampo, a senior campaigner of Oceana Philippines, during his visit to the area.
Earlier surveys witnessed vibrant gatherings of diverse species of cetaceans—including numerous kinds of dolphins and species of whales, with groups of as many as 100 individuals spotted in a single day. Protectors of Tañon Strait have complained against overfishing in the area, a very important fishing ground both for Negrenses and Cebuanos.
Aragones and his team, who have been monitoring the region since 1997, observed a significant increase in the number of dolphin-watching boats. To preserve the delicate ecosystem and to safeguard the remarkable marine mammals in Tañon Strait, the scientists have proposed several measures, including a moratorium on adding more boats to the already existing fleet.
Research also suggests that previous ecotourism activities negatively impacted dolphin behavior, reinforcing the need for responsible and sustainable tourism practices.Beach resorts like Boracay, El Nido, Puerto Galera and other popular tourist spots have experienced environmental degradation. The area is about 160 km long. It connects the Visayas Sea in the north to the Bohol Sea in the south. Its width varies from 5 km to 27 km, with the narrowest point in the south.
Worse, she said oil spills may also suffocate large marine wildlife, driving them away, the same way that noise pollution can also drive them away. According to Lim, Asean is known to host an assortment of dolphin species. Spinner dolphins, she said, naturally occur in other parts of Southeast Asia.