the philippines – oslob whale sharks

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The following description of Oslob Whale Sharks is drawn purely from publicly available information about the dive, snorkel and whale shark operation. This page will be updated with more detailed information about Oslob Whale Sharks contributions to integrated coastal management and its impact on conservation as soon as analysis of research is published in scientific journal articles.

Location

Oslob Whale Sharks is located in the barangay of Tan Awan, in the Municipality of Oslob, on the island of Cebu in The Philippines.

The diving and snorkelling

Oslob Whales Sharks is a dive, snorkel and whale shark watching operation established and run by a co-operative of 176 fishers, called the Tan Awan Oslob Fisherman’s Warden Association (TOFWSA). Whale sharks are the main attraction and divers and snorkelers can also see coral reefs, fish and other marine life, including rays. Fishers report that whale sharks have been coming close to shore to feed in the bay of Tan Awan for generations.

Since 2011, fishers have been feeding small amounts of krill to whale sharks each morning, drawing them closer to shore and making them easier for dive tourists to see. The whale sharks are offered krill for about six hours each day, from 6am.

Conservation

Oslob Whale Sharks does not have a dedicated, independent website, however there is a lot of information about Oslob on the internet produced by dive operators who take clients there and parties who are in favour of, or opposed to Oslob Whale Sharks. The information provided here is accordingly, sparse. Research undertaken on site for six weeks early in 2016 will provide information about the conservation effects of Oslob Whale Sharks.

Livelihoods for local fishers and communities

Oslob Whale Sharks is the most commercially successful community based dive operation in the world. Oslob Whale Sharks does not have a dedicated, independent website, however there is a lot of information about Oslob on the internet produced by dive operators who take clients there and parties who are in favour of, or opposed to Oslob Whale Sharks. The information provided here is accordingly, sparse. Research undertaken on site for six weeks early in 2016 will provide information about the livelihoods provided to local fishers and communities and their effect on the conservation of Oslob Whale Sharks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Journal articles on Oslob Whale Sharks 

Lowe, J. and Tejada, F.C. (2019), The role of livelihoods in collective engagement in sustainable integrated coastal management: Oslob Whale Sharks, Ocean & Coastal Management, 170, 80-92, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.10.018

Lowe, J., Tejada, J.F.C., and Meekan, M.G. (2019), Achieving sustainable livelihoods and sustainable integrated coastal management through community based dive tourism: Oslob Whale Sharks, Marine Policy, 108,103630, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103630

Meekan, M., and Lowe, J. (2019a), Does provisioning harm whale sharks at Oslob? A review of the evidence and reply to Ziegler et al. (2018), Tourism Management https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Meekan/publication/331637094_Oslob_whale_sharks_-_Preconceived_ideas_about_provisioning/links/5cac2bb5299bf118c4bd0a35/Oslob-whale-sharks-Preconceived-ideas-about-provisioning.pdf

Meekan, M., and Lowe, J. (2019b), Oslob Whale Sharks – Preconceived ideas about provisioning? Tourism Management, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark_Meekan/publication/331637094_Oslob_whale_sharks_-_Preconceived_ideas_about_provisioning/links/5cac2bb5299bf118c4bd0a35/Oslob-whale-sharks-Preconceived-ideas-about-provisioning.pdf