A fisherman had the surprise of his life when he fished out a lifeless but very rare 15-foot deepwater megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) in Burias Pass on Wednesday. Nonie Enolva, marine fisheries resources management section head of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol, told The Manila Times that the megamouth shark is a very rare deepwater species and is the third biggest filter feeding shark in the world. “The megamouth shark is the rarest species [of deepwater sharks]in the world. [The fact that this is caught in Burias Pass] indicates that the area is highly diverse and remains a key in biodiversity in the Philippines,” Enolva said.

Barcia, R. B. (2015, January 30). Rare shark found in Albay's Burias Pass. The Manila Times, p. A6.