Asian Diver – March 2018

In my research, I have written

a scientific journal article on the

livelihoods of fishermen from

Oslob Whale Sharks and the

conservation effects of Oslob

on whale sharks, with well-known

elasmobranch scientist, Dr Mark

Meekan, of the Australian Institute

of Marine Science. Look out

for amy articles, which will be

published later this year.

LEFT: The fishermen of Tan-awan have

grown to love and protect the

whale sharks

IMAGE: Shutterstock

are employed by barangay Tan-awan
in jobs such as the local police, street
sweepers, gardeners, cleaners, and
parking attendants.
Thanks to new employment
opportunities in Oslob, fishermen and
women are returning to the village
from the cities. Community benefits
such as tourism infrastructure,
community infrastructure and
health, education and social welfare
programmes are also attracting the
locals back to their hometown. The
government has built roads, school
buildings, basketball courts and
highway bus shelters. Homes now
have a reliable supply of electricity and
water. Residents benefit from medical
care and even the ambulances are paid
for by the government.
Interestingly, the communities
in and around Oslob have not only
benefitted financially, but socially as
well. The women and girls in Oslob
now have decent work to support
themselves, and social welfare
programmes have reduced social
inequality through financial assistance
and the distribution of food parcels.
With the returning fishermen and

women from the cities, the community

is gradually strengthening, not

just in barangay Tan-awan, but the

surrounding villages as well – TOSWFA

has recently donated to the typhoon

victims of Leyte and tourist attractions

are being developed in the surrounding

barangays.

CONSERVING WHALE SHARKS

Perhaps most significantly, the fishers

and community of Oslob have come

to depend on whale sharks for their

livelihoods, and now actively prioritise

the animals’ protection. Oslob

financially supports the conservation

of local marine reserves and

enforcement of fisheries laws by the

Bantay Dagat, or Sea Wardens.

For all the good things about Oslob,

it does face operational challenges.

With popularity comes controversy,

and Oslob has become the centre of

debate around whale shark feeding

for tourism. The world is watching

how Oslob manages its daily

interaction with the whale sharks

of Tan-awan and its impact on

their conservation. AD