Management

These Two Management Bodies Protect Tubbataha in a Number of Ways

• Law enforcement
• Conservation management
• Regular ecosystem research and monitoring.
• Information & education programs on local, national and international levels.
• Supporting the municipality of Cagayancillo - which has political jurisdiction over Tubbataha - in their coastal resource management

Park Rangers

A team of rangers from the Philippine Coastguard, the Philippine Navy and the TMO are based in Tubbataha year-round.

Education

Education is a key part of Tubbataha's management program. It is essential to get stakeholders participate in attaining management objectives. The TRNP 3-year IEC Plan thrust is to raise awareness on marine biodiversity conservation to develop an active public constituency for Tubbataha Reefs

Key message was identified for a particular audience, who has direct and direct influence to the Park - such as divers, youths, fishermen and local legislators - to let them know about the value of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

The Tubbataha Management Office also gives briefings on dive boats going to Tubbataha, helping visiting divers to become more environmentally conscious.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is currently part of the line-up in the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. To nominate Tubbataha or to learn more about this global competition, see www.new7wonders.com

Scientific Research

Scientists have been visiting Tubbataha for almost thirty years.

In 1982, a combined team from the Philippine Government and Marine Science Institute conducted one of the first scientific surveys of the reefs. But it was not until 1997 that the research and monitoring of Tubbataha was standardized, allowing data to be successfully compared over the years.

Six main areas of research have now been established:

• Fish
• Corals
• Sea Birds
• Sea Grasses
• Marine Plankton
• Marine Mammals (Cetaceans)

The World Wildlife Fund has also carried out studies in Tubbataha concerning the effect of climate change on coral reef ecosystems.

Researchers normally visit the reef during the summer months of April to June or during the monsoon break in September/October. They have set up seven permanent transect sites for benthic and fish community surveys at depths of 5m and 10m.

The research and monitoring program includes sites in Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley Reefs - inside Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park - as well as on Bastera Reef and around the islands of Cagayancillo - outside the park. This range allows marine scientists to compare data from protected and unprotected areas - crucial information in analysing the effectiveness of the park.

In 1988 Tubbataha was declared a National Marine Park - fishing within the park boundaries was made illegal and the reefs ceased to be under such a constant barrage of unimpeded destruction

Even so, illegal fishing remained a problem and constant vigilance was required to ensure the park's safety.

In 1997 the present ranger station was built. Since then the year-round presence of park rangers in Tubbataha has been of immense help in the battle against illegal fishing. Still, each year, there are a number of apprehensions of local or foreign fishermen trying to escape their vigilance.

To this day, the struggle to protect Tubbataha continues…

Threats to Tubbataha

Coral reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on our planet…

The Philippines is considered a 'Biodiversity Hotspot', one of the world's most biologically rich countries - but also among the most endangered.

Until comparatively recently, Tubbataha's remote location and susceptibility to harsh weather acted as a natural barrier against exploitation by humans.

But by the 1980s, the decline of fisheries in other parts of the Philippines forced fishermen to look to Tubbataha as a source of revenue. This coincided with their increased use of motorised boats - rather than paddle or sailboats - which gave them easier access to the reefs.

Larger vessels from China and Taiwan also started to visit Tubbataha, hauling in large catches. Many fishers resorted to using destructive fishing techniques to maximise catch during their trips to Tubbataha. This included the use of dynamite to blast reef areas - allowing the easy capture of all marine life - destroying entire ecosystems. Some fishers also used cyanide solution, a poison that dazes fish and kills corals.

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