TACLOBAN CITY — Authorities have released Monday afternoon a spinner dolphin slightly injured from blast fishing in Mondragon, Northern Samar.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said the two-meter-long dolphin was released more than two hours after it was rescued by a team from BFAR provincial office and local government unit in Napanpan village.
“The responders applied Betadine (povidone iodine) to the stranded dolphin to cure its abrasions which could have been caused by the strong waves and minimal bumps on the rocks. The mammal probably lost its balance after the sudden explosion,” Albaladejo said.
It was released back to the ocean around 4 p.m. by responders for “it seemed to be in a good condition and there were no available medical supplies necessary for a long-term medication treatment,” according to BFAR.
Albaladejo believes that dolphins have been frequent in the municipal waters of Northern Samar hunting for prey such as rainbow runner and sardines.
“More marine mammals have been rescued recently because of the increasing awareness of our fishermen not to eat them,” the BFAR official added.
Albaladejo said they expected more sightings of marine mammals in the region due to climate change. The mammals are sighted in Eastern Visayas region, which faces the Pacific Ocean.
A stranded marine mammal refers to one that has beached or run aground and is helpless or has lost the capability to return to its natural habitat. -PNA
