Bacolod:The city government and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) have called for enhanced marine protection following the beaching of a three-ton whale shark in Bacolod on October 30.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Greg Gasataya activated a multi-agency response team that promptly buried the whale shark's carcass at the city's sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa on the same day. In his statement, Mayor Gasataya expressed hope that such incidents would not recur in the city.

The city government and DA-BFAR reminded the public that whale sharks are protected, harmless marine fish that feed on plankton and small fish and should not be harassed or harmed. They urged local communities to report any stranded marine wildlife to authorities for quick action.

An on-site assessment by the City Agriculture Office and DA-BFAR found no human-caused injuries to the whale shark. The whale shark had minor scrapes from trying to free itself after becoming disoriented and trapped in shallow waters. City Agriculturist Maricar Quiro noted that the whale shark likely entered the area to feed before becoming stranded, but the exact cause of death remains undetermined.

The whale shark, spotted around 5 a.m., was familiar to local fishers as it often swam near their boats. The DA-BFAR highlighted that the Philippines hosts the world's second-largest whale shark population. Protection efforts include a ban on taking or catching whale sharks under Section 102 of the Philippine Fisheries Code and initiatives to preserve their biodiverse habitats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies whale sharks as endangered.