BFAR employees honor graves of whales, dolphins in Bicol

Every All Souls’ Day, employees of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Bicol visit and light candles at the graves of 14 whales and dolphins that died in various areas in the Bicol Region.

Dubbed the Cetacean Cemetery, the site can be found at the regional office of BFAR Bicol in Barangay Fabrica, Bula, Camarines Sur.

The cemetery was established in 2013 by the Fisheries Regional Emergency Stranding Response Team (FIRST) as a reminder of the many incidents of stranding and death of marine mammals in the region.

Some of the buried marine mammals include Risso’s dolphin, spinner dolphin, Fraser’s dolphin, dwarf sperm whale, Bryde’s whale, melon-headed whale, and striped dolphin.

Most of the deaths were caused by human activities, including dynamite fishing, ingestion of solid waste, fishing net entanglement, and boat strikes.

Bicol Region is known as a hotspot for marine mammals due to its archipelagic location, which serves as both a migratory route and home to various cetacean species.

Because of these factors, information, education, and advocacy efforts remain vital to their survival.

BFAR Bicol said the Cetacean Cemetery is more than just a burial site—it serves as a reminder for people to take responsibility for the environment.

The project aims to increase public awareness of the importance of cetaceans in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem and to encourage the public to protect these animals from harmful human activities.