The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) appealed on Wednesday to the public, especially tourists in Southern Cebu, to not disturb sharks sighted near the shore.

A video captured by netizen Kier Belleza shows a number of juvenile blacktip sharks swimming in shallow waters near the coastline of Barangay Pasil in Santander, Cebu. The video was shared Tuesday.

"Let us not disturb them or harass them," Cebu Provincial Fisheries Officer Edgar Delfin said, explaining it is normal for such species to thrive in the months of February, March and April, their spawning season.

The blacktip sharks are common in the area of the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape. Barangay Pasil's waters is also part of a marine sanctuary.

The sharks are in the area probably because they were looking for food near the shores of the marine sanctuary.

"They are part of the food chain," said Delfin.

Delfin urged the public to refrain from swimming in the marine sanctuary.

The province has an existing ordinance prohibiting the capture and sale of sharks in Cebu.