Return of Pups

The Paddling Palau team has been patiently waiting all season for the seas to calm down.  On Saturday May 23 our wish was granted.  With winds of only 5-10 knots, we're finally able to access the open ocean in search of dolphins, whales, and other big game.  

​After 30 minutes of playtime with a pod of our resident Spinner Dolphins, we continued a few miles further out to sea.  Boat Captain Dustin Blesam spotted driftwood so we raced over to check out the action.  As expected, the floating log served as a FAD (fish aggregation device).  The shade, algae, & barnacles provide ample food and protection for a host of pelagic fish.  The team jumped in with cameras and Go Pros to record these elusive oceanic wanderers.  We were immediately greeted by juvenile Oceanic Triggerfish which swam right up to our lenses for a closer look.

   Schools of predatory Wahoo remained enticingly just out of range of our cameras, circling us, out of sheer curiosity.  To our delight they were accompanied by 2-3 foot Silky Shark pups.  These open ocean sharks have been decimated for decades, as the Palau government allowed foreign fishing fleets to wipe out our high seas resources.  As of January 1, 2020, that situation has improved somewhat.  Having declared Palau a marine sanctuary, all of the Long Line Tuna vessels departed Palau's exclusive economic zone.  Sadly, Palau continues to allow purse sein vessels from Okinawa to fish inside the marine sanctuary under a dubious bilateral agreement with Japan. 

The beneficiaries of the Commercial Long Line Vessel departure includes the Silky Sharks as they have been historically targeted for their valuable fins.  Without the threat of capture, the Silkies are now increasing in number and size.  The presence of the pups is an especially positive sign as it indicates successful breeding and recruitment.  Unlike their wary reef shark cousins, the Silky Sharks show no fear of people and will approach somewhat disconcertingly within touching range.  Despite their menacing appearance, the Silky Sharks can be discouraged with nothing more than eye contact, leading to some especially exiting encounters.

​After sharing some good times with the Silky Sharks we continued further out to sea, where we bumped into the migratory Spotted Dolphins.  A pod of several hundred dolphins raced towards our boat as if they'd seen a long lost friend.  After showing off their jumping prowess, the cetaceans disappeared into the depths in search of their scaly prey.

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​We finished our day at the Ngerchong Inside dive site, for Kendra Miluu Leidich's 16th dive.  Schools of Soldier Fish & Bream hovered over a mountain of Cobblestone Coral.  We climbed back on board the boat for a one hour ride back home with memories of leaping dolphins and swirling sharks dancing in our heads.  

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By: Ron Leidich