Residents and visitors in Santander, Cebu, were treated to an unusual sight as a group of young sharks congregated in the rocky and shallow parts of the sea close to the coast, easily visible from the road. This occurrence coincided with a similar influx of small fish in the neighboring town of Ginatilan.
Captured on video by netizen Floramie Dacillo, the phenomenon attracted attention as people gathered to catch various types of Sardinella such as “tuloy-tamban” and “malangsi.” These events were recorded on Tuesday night in the coastal areas of Barangay San Roque and Poblacion in Ginatilan and repeated the following Wednesday night.
Wilma Laspoña, the municipal agriculturist of Ginatilan, speculated that global warming might play a role in driving these fish to the shore. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Visayas (BFAR 7) suggested that the recent closed fishing season, which lasted three months starting November 2023, could be a factor contributing to the abundance of fish in these protected seascapes in the Visayas.
It is believed that the presence of these small fish near the coast of Ginatilan might have attracted the young sharks to the shores of Barangay Pasil in Santander, where they were observed staying for several days.
Although the sighting of young sharks in this area is not uncommon, the increased number and duration of their stay this time were notable. Despite the interest this event may generate, BFAR 7 Director Mario Ruinata advised against initiating tourism-related activities involving these baby sharks. Unlike whale sharks, which have become a popular tourist attraction in Oslob, these young sharks could be dangerous and aggressive, necessitating further study to identify their species.
This unusual marine activity highlights the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of marine ecosystems, possibly influenced by environmental changes and human activities.