Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP) is a non-profit, non-stock conservation organization that aims to develop a better appreciation of the marine environment, its ecological processes and how it affects all of us through activities that focus on long-lived marine animals, also referred to as Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Marine Wildlife (ETPs-MW), such as dolphins, whales, dugong, sharks, rays, and marine turtles: iconic species of the marine environment. Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines was incorporated on the 13th of September 2010.
Now in its 10th year, the organization’s goal to support the conservation and protection of marine wildlife species and their habitats in the Philippines partnerships and collaborative work, remains unchanged.
The organization is still run on a volunteer-basis by its founder and supporters.
The MWWP achieves its goals through projects and activities such as information dissemination, education and awareness raising campaigns, training, research, publication of knowledge products, policy and consultation work related to marine wildlife conservation. Providing relevant information online through various social media platforms, particularly Facebook, remains the main venue for information dissemination.
At MWWP, partnerships, be it formal or informal, are important in meeting our conservation goals. We are proud and honored to have partnered up with different organizations, businesses, and organizations, both local and international, over the last decade.
The dugong, 5 species of turtles, and 28 species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) found within Philippine waters are listed in the CITES appendices and are protected in the country. At least 15 of these species are under the Red List Threatened categories (i.e. Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable) globally. Of the 106 elasmobranchs confirmed present in the Philippines (including whale sharks, mantas and wedgefishes), 57 species are assessed globally as Threatened but only 24 species are listed in CITES appendices and consequently protected in the country.
Populations of endangered, threatened and protected marine wildlife (ETP MW) continue to decline in the Philippines due to: