Whale sharks or “butanding” were sighted off Barangay Tinoto in Maasim, Sarangani over the past weeks, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12).

DENR-12 said the sightings of whale sharks demonstrate the ecological importance of the area.

DENR-12 Regional Executive Director and Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Chair, Atty. Felix Alicer, said in a statement that the sightings of whale sharks can also be attributed to the migratory habits and the bay’s rich biodiversity.

With this, DENR-12 urged the public, including fisherfolk and tourists, to help protect the whale sharks and follow the whale shark interaction guidelines.

These guidelines include maintaining a 30-meter distance for boats, moving slowly, and turning off engines when near whale sharks.

Swimmers and divers should keep a minimum distance of three to five meters, avoid touching, chasing, or feeding the whale sharks, and respect their natural movements.

Flash photography and use of selfie sticks should also be avoided to minimize stress on the species.

“Whale sharks are the largest extant fish species and are found in tropical oceans, including Sarangani Bay. These gentle giants often swim near the ocean surface, feeding on small fish, fish eggs, and plankton,” DENR-12 said.

“Under the Philippine Fisheries Code (Republic Act 8550, as amended by RA 10654), all species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including whale sharks, are protected,” DENR-12 added.