Business · Philippines Bureau
Bicol honors 14 marine mammals at dedicated cetacean cemetery
A specialized burial ground in Camarines Sur provides final resting place for whales and dolphins that wash ashore in the Bicol region. The facility, maintained by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has served as a memorial site since its establishment a decade ago.
LSN Philippines ·
LEGAZPI CITY — Fourteen cetaceans have been laid to rest at a dedicated cemetery maintained by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol, reflecting growing efforts to honor marine mammals that strand along the region's coasts.
The BFAR-5 Cetacean Cemetery, located within the agency's regional office compound in Barangay Fabrica, Bula, Camarines Sur, was established in 2013 to provide a dignified burial ground for whales and dolphins that wash ashore in the region. The facility serves as both a final resting place and a testament to the agency's commitment to marine conservation and animal welfare.
Cetacean strandings remain a concern across Philippine waters, with marine mammals frequently washing ashore due to disease, injury, or environmental factors. The dedicated cemetery allows BFAR to document and study these incidents while ensuring respectful treatment of the animals.
The existence of the facility underscores the importance placed by regional authorities on marine biodiversity protection and proper handling of stranded marine life. BFAR continues to monitor coastal areas and respond to reports of distressed cetaceans throughout the Bicol region.