CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas on Wednesday discouraged residents from touching or disturbing sharks spotted in the coastal waters off Santander town in the southern tip of Cebu province.
Edgardo Delfin, BFAR-Cebu officer-in-charge, said the report that sharks were seen at the municipal waters of Santander was verified by the Municipal Agriculture Office.
The municipal fishery technician, Delfin said, reported to his office that the species spotted are actually juvenile blacktip sharks apparently looking for food in nearby shores.
"People should not be afraid. The presence of these sharks does not pose danger especially to people swimming there. They do not bite not unless they are threatened or harmed," he said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The juvenile sharks also swim away once they sense people in the surroundings.
Delfin described the occurrence in Santander as normal, explaining that young sharks commonly show up over the months of February and March to feed in areas with small fishes.
Accordingly, 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, he added.
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. (PNA)