Ingested plastic killed whale found in ComVal —BFAR necropsy

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) on Wednesday expressed regrets over the death of a whale in Compostela Valley whose belly was found full of plastic garbage.

Forty kilograms of assorted plastic garbage were found inside the stomach of the dead Cuvier's beaked whale, which was washed ashore in Compostela Valley on Friday.  

A necropsy conducted by BFAR revealed that ingestion of huge amount of foreign objects — mostly plastic and cellophane — caused the whale's death.

The incident prompted BFAR to call for support in fisheries protection and conservation.

“Following this incident, we urge the general public and all concerned government entities to support the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan, a holistic program of the DA-BFAR, which would ensure that our seas and oceans are free of plastics and other harmful pollutants,” BFAR, which is under the Department of Agriculture (DA), said in a statement.

The program focuses on the significance of sustainably managing fisheries and aquatic resources.  It also involves stakeholders to the cause of resource protection and conservation.

The remains of the whale is now undergoing preservation process as its bones will be preserved for exhibit purposes, BFAR said.

“DA-BFAR is committed to further intensifying its monitoring and law enforcement efforts to be more responsive on incidents of marine mammal stranding and safeguard our seas from destructive activities to prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future,” it said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News