Don’t disturb the sharks: BFAR

HE BUREAU of Immigration is set to impose a temporary ban on South Korea where at least a dozen people had died from the Wuhan coronavirus and nearly 2,000 more infected with the deadly disease. “The travel ban to Korea is said Immigration Commissioner from Daegu City and North Gyeongsang pending full implementation, Jaime Morente. province are disallowed as we are waiting for the copy IED refers to the Inter-agency from entering the Philippines. of the EID resolution, as well Task Force on Emerging “The Inter-agency Task as clarification on how to target Infectious Diseases. Force on Emerging Infectious arriving passengers coming Morente said the travel ban is Diseases will be coordinating from Daegu and North Gyeongsang,” selective as only foreigners coming with Korean authorities on issuing a certification to distinguish if a passenger is coming from said areas of concern,” he said.

At present, Filipinos are not allowed to travel to South Korea, except for those who are working there or permanent residents and student visa holders.

But the Department of Health said the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has resolved to impose travel restrictions for passengers from North Gyeongsang, Daegu City and Cheongdo County, effective immediately.

CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas has told residents to refrain from disturbing juvenile blacktip reef sharks spotted in the coastal waters off Santander town in the southern tip of Cebu province.

Edgardo Delfin, BFAR-CEBU officer-in-charge, said people should not be scared because the presence of these sharks does not pose danger, especially to swimmers. “They do not bite not unless they are threatened or harmed,” he said, adding, the sharks also swim away once they sensed people in the surroundings.

Delfin described the occurrence in Santander as normal, explaining that juvenile sharks commonly show up over the months of February and March to feed in areas with small fishes. He said the sharks were found at a shallow portion of the municipal waters near the marine sanctuary in Barangay Pasil where any economic or fishing activities are prohibited.

He said marine sanctuaries, as one of its main purposes, are maintained to boost the fish population and biodiversity. Blacktip sharks are usually found at the shallow, coastal waters.

The presence of sharks, he said, might spark tourist attraction but disturbing them must be avoided. Catching or collecting sharks is also banned in Cebu by an existing provincial ordinance.

Delfin said the marine sanctuary is also guarded by the Bantay Dagat personnel of the municipality and the barangay.

According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Blacktip reef sharks patrol their territories in coral lagoons and around the edges of reefs. They often swim in water shallow enough that their triangular, black-tipped top fin sticks out above the surface, presenting a classic image of sharks as portrayed in movies and cartoons.

But blacktips are not as menacing as they seem. They are curious about divers in their territory, but they are also wary and easily frightened. These small sharks hunt the abundance of fishes that live on the reefs and try to steer clear of people. Blacktip sharks are often caught and wasted as bycatch from other fisheries. Like many other species of shark, blacktip populations are declining. (John Rey Saavedra. With additional reporting from the Cebu Examiner.)

“Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomatic visas will be allowed entry subject to existing screening and quarantine protocols. The travel restriction will be reviewed and re-evaluated within the next 48 hours based on new developments.”

“On the other hand, any travel to South Korea will be temporarily suspended. Only permanent residents of South Korea, Filipinos leaving for study, and OFWS returning for work will be allowed provided that they sign a written declaration acknowledging the risks involved which will be complemented with a health advisory pamphlet,” it said.

Flights to South Korea still continue and the Civil Aeronautics Board is yet to issue its guidelines on the temporary ban. South Korea is the country’s largest source of foreign tourist arrivals. (Cebu Examiner)