Donsol, Sorsogon
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Donsol is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 39,995 people in 7,503 households.
[edit] Tourism
Donsol is a popular tourist destination for the whale sharks that can be seen in the bordering seas. It is nicknamed the "Whale Shark Capital of the World", with the largest number of recorded sightings of whale sharks anywhere in the world. Swimming with whale sharks was featured as the "Best Animal Encounter in Asia" by Time Magazine in 2004. Whale sharks can be seen all-year round except during typhoons, with presence peaking between February and May.
Interaction with the whale sharks is regulated by the local department of tourism (DOT) office. WWF guidelines are generally observed to protect the sharks. Rules include limiting the number of swimmers per boat to six, no scuba divers and staying further than three meters from the sharks. In practice many of these rules are broken on a daily basis. As many as 14 boats at a time may 'mob' a shark, with up to 30 or 40 swimmers following the shark on the surface. Most sharks are touched at least once during every interaction, accidentally by brushing with the fins, or deliberately.
In recent years the number of male sharks have out-numbered female sharks by 20:1. The females that are seen are generally large mature adults in the 7m ~ 9m range. Increasing numbers of sharks show propeller marks on their backs. Anecdotal evidence from local fishermen suggests that prop strikes are from fishing boats in the off-season, rather than from tourist boats in the main February-June tourist season.
In 2006 five sharks were found dead on the surface, within 30 miles of Donsol. They had all been shot at close range. One shark had 13 bullet wounds to the head. The locals blame this on commercial fishermen shooting the sharks if they are caught in their nets. Mantas, which are also protected in the Philippines, are also over fished and sold in local markets in the Sorsogon area.
Tourism continues to develop piece-meal in Donsol. This is mostly due to the lack of any real tourist infrastructure. Groups from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines make up the largest groups of visitors. Most book guided tours with dive centers familiar with whale shark interaction.
[edit] Barangays
Donsol is politically subdivided into 51 barangays.
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[edit] External links
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code
- 2000 Philippine Census Information
- Images from a dive trip to Donsol in April 2006 (comments in Swedish)
- WWF's Community-Based Ecotourism and Coastal Resources Management Project in Donsol, Sorsogon
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