A young female whale shark died after being entwined in a driftnet in Marabut, Samar last Monday.
The fisherman, who has been identified as Rodolfo Flores, claimed he was fishing between Marabut and Lawaan towns in Eastern Samar, when he had difficulty lifting his net. He thought the net had stuck on some rocks, but he found a dead animal in it when he hauled it up, according to a report by the Manila Bulletin.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said the 17.4-foot juvenile shark’s death cannot be faulted to Flores, because he was unaware of the situation.
“The usual practice is to set the net in early evening and left overnight. This juvenile female whale shark might have separated from the pod chasing krill or “alamang” and went to the shallow waters of the gulf and got entangled,” explained Albaladejo to the Manila Bulletin.
Necrosy report showed superficial skin abrasions on the shark’s mouth, which might have been inflicted while she was trying to get free.
