Marine Wildlife Watch - Philippines

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SHARKS, RAYS, AND CHIMAERAS

With over 200 species of sharks and rays in the Philippines, our country plays a crucial role in conserving these ecologically and economically important marine species.

Despite the lack of understanding of the sharks’ various roles in ecosystems, it is clear that they are key players in structuring food webs, whether they are at the top of the food chain or at lower trophic levels. Sharks are typically depicted as apex predators that have significant top-down effects on food webs. They help keep prey populations healthy by feeding on weak, sick, or old fishes, and prevent overgrazing of critical marine habitats.

#CONSERVEPHSHARKS

SPECIES LIST & STATUS

Shark Conservation Policy Brief National policies on shark conservation have been proposed in the House of Representatives and Senate. The proposed Shark Conservation Act of the Philippines, written as a result of a series of workshops and events, has provisions addressing the problems concerning fisheries, bycatch, trade, release, labelling issues and utilization of sharks. The right legal framework and government support will ensure implementation of laws leading to the success of the conservation efforts on sharks

Shark Legislation Tool Kit For local legislators, here’s a toolkit that can help in formulating shark conservation legislation for your area. Produced by Save Sharks Network Philippines led by Greenpeace, Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, and Save Philippine Seas in consultation with various stakeholders in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Aquatic Marine Wildlife Rescue and Response Manual on Sharks and Rays will help communities and field officers to respond to various incidents: from a whale shark stranded on a beach to a manta ray entangled in fishing gear and collect information for documentation that will contribute to research and to help conserve them better.

Quick Response to Shark and Ray Incidents When live or dead sharks and rays are encountered on the beach, in the shallows, or entangled in nets, most situations would require a response. This poster serves as an easy guide to ensure the response is carried out appropriately for various situations in the field. They are meant to supplement the Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Response Manual Series.

Pating Ka Ba? A comprehensive identification guidebook focused on sharks, rays, and chimaeras. This is the first of its kind in the Philippines. It is a useful reference to enhance our understanding on shark species and its relatives found in the country and the capacity of the Philippines to manage their threats such as directed fisheries and multispecies fisheries in which they constitute as bycatch.

NPOA Sharks 2017 – 2022 Here are the Philippine Status Report and the National Plan of Action for the conservation and management of sharks and rays in the Philippines for the year 2017-2022. This is produced by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute under GIZ Philippines.

2020 PH Conservation Road Map See the plans of the Philippine government, together with groups and individuals for shark conservation where all sharks are conserved for the benefit of all Filipinos. By the year 2020, Filipinos are expected to be empowered to conserve shark populations, mitigate threats, and apply scientific bases for sustainable utilization of some populations.

A shortened version of the 2020 Roadmap for Sharks and Rays. This is ready for printing in A4 paper and can be distributed in events. Get to know more about the status of our sharks in the Philippines and know the steps that the Philippines is taking to conserve more shark populations in its seas. These are available in Filipino, English, and Bisaya.

Protected sharks and rays (2023) Be familiar with the 58 sharks and ray species that are protected, as of November 2023, under the Philippine Fisheries Code, Republic Act (RA) 8550, as amended by RA 10654, Section 102. These species are listed in the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendices are the only species protected in the country out of a total of 200 species.