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srin Towalu, 49, also known as Ka Asi, recalled how elders in his coastal village of Inengo in Bone Bolango, Gorontalo, used to perform a traditional ritual every time they saw a whale in the ocean as it was believed to be a sign of good fortune.

“Whales are believed to bring a lot of blessings to fishermen. When a whale passes by, it is a sign there are plenty of fish around,” Ka Asi told The Jakarta Post.

Local people would spread five colors of rice grains on the seashore as well as betel quid, areca nuts and cigarettes as offerings.

Unfortunately, the ritual is no longer performed these days.

Ansar Rahman, 38, owner of the Putra Laut MX fishing vessel, said the last time he witnessed the ritual was in 1993. He remembered his grandmother spreading grains of black, purple, white, red and blue rice in the sea right after sighting a whale passing by.

“After she spread the grains, fish immediately appeared,” he told the Post on Friday.

Customary rituals were always performed if any of three types of marine creatures passed by: paupausu (killer whales), munggiango hulalo (whale sharks) or sisilai (dugongs).

Recently, a video showing Ansar and his fellow fishermen saving a killer whale went viral nationwide.

The video captured their risky mission to save a 15-meter killer whale that had become trapped in a fishing net in Tomini Bay, some 24 kilometers from the coastline of Inengo village.

In order to save the whale, the fishermen had to tear apart their net.

Despite an operational loss of Rp 4 million (US$300) and losing one ton of fish, Asrin said he felt lucky because a killer whale, or orca, had visited his boat.

“After saving the orca, I will get a more abundant catch on my next trip,” he said.

His luck made him remember that once, a fisherman in the village had gone bankrupt after killing a passing whale.

Despite no records showing the presence of orcas in Tomini Bay, the whales often pass the area, with two sightings in May and November last year.

Verrianto Madjowa from the Association of Indonesian Marine Graduates (ISKINDO) said the presence of orcas was indeed a sign there were plenty of fish around. This is because besides hunting for seals and white sharks, orcas also hunt for pelagic creatures, which make up local fishermen’s favorite catches.

He commended the local traditions for respecting marine creatures.

“The local wisdom of people who live on the Gorontalo seashore is filled with conservation values,” Verrianto added.