Sipidan Island Park is located on the east coast of Malaysian Borneo in the Celebes Sea, near the border of Indonesia and the Philippines. The island is formed of living coral sitting on top of a volcanic cone, covered in lush jungle. The island itself was declared a bird sanctuary in 1933, and the surrounding waters were declared a marine park in 2004. In the 1980s it became a popular dive spot after it was visited by Jacques Cousteau. Sipidan Island Park has hundreds of coral species and more than 400 fish species. It is a feeding ground for reef fish. Some of the species found in the park include such as parrot fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, barracudas, eels, shrimp, lobsters, sea cucumbers, starfish, turtles, black-tipped reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, large cuttlefish, lion fish, leaf fish, frog fish among others. A range of regulations are in place to protect the park. In 2009, all tourist accommodation on the island was closed to protect it. Penalties for these offences include anywhere from 1 to 5 years imprisonment, depending on the offence and large fines. It is an offence to:
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Whale shark tourism in Oslob in the Philippines, has become an excellent alternative source of income for locals. The Whale Shark watching tours hire local fishermen who feed the whale sharks small amounts of food to encourage them to stay in the area and stay close to the boats carrying the tourists. Whale sharks are susceptible to pressure from overfishing and finning, and this type of tourism provides an opportunity for the whale sharks to generate ongoing income. Locals are able to earn more substantial incomes to feed their families regular meals, connect their homes to electricity, buy medicines, and the businesses can lead to improvements more broadly like infrastructure developments in the community. It reduces the pressure on fish stocks, as local fishermen are no longer fishing, but are gainfully employed in tourist activities. It also serves the purpose of raising awareness of whale sharks which can create movements for their protection. Activities such as this which involve human intervention, raise some ethical concerns regarding whether it is right for human to interfere with wild animals for economic gain, the impact this may have on their habits an interactions, and what flow-on responsibilities this then places on tourism operators. Watch the Youtube clip below about a personal experience of swimming with Whale Sharks in Oslob. ACTIVITIES:
1. Identify the benefits of Whale Shark tourism in Oslob. 2. Explain the ecological benefits of Whale Shark tourism, as well as the possible risks. 3. Identify some concerns you might have about whale tourism after watching the video above. 4. Undertake internet research on whale shark tourism in other locations. What measures could be put in place at Oslob to ensure the ongoing protection of whale sharks? 5. Describe how raising awareness about whale sharks could lead to better protection of whale sharks. 6. Undertake further research on whale shark tourism. Analyse the ethical considerations of operating a tourist operation such as whale shark tourism. |
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