DYNAMITE BLASTS IN A HUMPBACK WHALE MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE BREEDING GROUND, BABUYAN ISLANDS,PHILIPPINES

摘要

The waters of the Babuyan Islands, Northern Luzon, are the onlyknown breeding ground of humpback whales in the Philippines (Acebeset al. 2007). It was recently recognized as part of the western NorthPacific population of humpback whales (Acebes et al. 2007). Thesewaters are also home to 12 other cetacean species. Beginning in early2006, this area was heavily exposed to dynamite blasts from fishingand salvaging of metal from shipwrecks. Locals used dynamite to cutmetal pieces from shipwrecks that sunk within Camiguin Island bay.Each explosion uses up at least 5 kilograms of dynamite; however,the exact amount is uncertain because the operators of this illegalactivity refused to disclose the information. Dynamite fishing isalso rampant around the islands. The effects of dynamite blasts onhumpback whales and other cetaceans in the Philippines have notbeen investigated. Such studies are necessary in order to mitigatethese activities and protect the cetaceans from the potentially harmfulanthropogenic noise. This report describes our current understandingof the dynamite blast and humpback whale situation in the BabuyanIslands.