WATCHING WILDLIFE RESPONSIBLY

Tourism and Conservation

Tourism is an important tool in the conservation of marine wildlife and if done responsibly, could effectively protect threatened species, raise awareness, and provide livelihood opportunities.

• DOT-DA-DILG-DENR JMC No. 01 s. 2020 - Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interactions in the PhilippinesJoint Memorandum Circular
• Sites

DOT-DA-DILG-DENR JMC No. 01 s. 2020 Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interactions in the Philippines Joint Memorandum Circular - The JMC ensures that the proper guidelines are followed when interacting with marine wildlife for tourism purposes for the safety of tourists, protection of the wildlife, and the enhancement of the experience.

Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Small and Large Cetaceans The following guidelines are recommended for tours dedicated to DOLPHIN and WHALE interactions on a boat. In-water activities are prohibited. Zones are established with minimum distances, maximum interaction time and maximum number of boats. These are especially important if there are numerous visitors participating in this activity throughout the day.

Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Dugong The following guidelines are recommended for tours dedicated to DUGONG interactions on a boat and in-water. Zones are established with minimum distances, maximum interaction time and maximum number of boats and tourists in the water. These are especially important if there are numerous visitors participating in this activity throughout the day.

Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Whale Shark The following guidelines are recommended for tours dedicated to WHALE SHARK interactions on a boat and in-water. Zones are established with minimum distances, maximum interaction time and maximum number of boats and tourists in the water. These are especially important if there are numerous visitors participating in this activity throughout the day.

General Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Prohibitions In destinations where you could interact with marine wildlife such as marine mammals, marine turtles, sharks and rays and where dedicated tours are operating, the following guidelines are recommended. Following these guidelines mean: 1. Avoiding serious, long-term damage to marine wildlife and habitats, 2. Helping tourism bring income to local communities while promoting conservation and biodiversity protection, 3. Ensuring safety of the community, tour operators and tourists, and 4. Enhancing the interaction experience of tourists.

Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Sharks and Rays

Marine Wildlife Interaction Guidelines Posters: Aerial Approach

WATCHING TO PROTECT WILDLIFE

Enforcement

Support to law enforcers is provided to ensure the protection of marine wildlife and effective implementation of Philippine and international laws and regulations.

RA 9147 List of protected species under the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

FAO 208 List of protected species under the mandate of the Department of Agriculture

PCSD RESOLUTION NO. 15-521 List of protected species in the Province of Palawan under the mandate of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development

Protected Sharks and Rays in the Philippines Species of sharks and Rays listed in the Appendices of CITES are automatically protected in the country. Currently, there are 25 species in the Philippine list

Shark and Ray Identification Guides for CITES implementation

WATCHING OVER WILDLIFE

Policy

A legal framework is a requirement for the conservation of marine wildlife where gaps are filled if current laws and regulations are not enough.

Shark Conservation Policy Brief 2021 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

Republic Act No. 9147 _ Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines Otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act or the Wildlife Act this law provides for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.

Republic Act No. 8550 _ Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines Also known as the Fisheries Code, it makes provision for the management and conservation of fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines and the reconstitution or establishment of fisheries institutions both at the national and local level.

Republic Act No. 10654 _ Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines This Republic Act amends the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8550) and aims to deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Amendments deal with several aspects of the above mentioned Code, specifying new management and conservation measures to conserve and manage living marine resources, fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines and the reconstitution or establishment of fisheries institutions both at the national and local level.

DOT-DA-DILG-DENR JMC No. 01 s. 2020 - Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of Marine Wildlife Tourism Interactions in the Philippines Joint Memorandum Circular The JMC ensures that the proper guidelines are followed when interacting with marine wildlife for tourism purposes for the safety of tourists, protection of the wildlife, and the enhancement of the experience.

Shark Conservation Legislation Toolkit 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.

LEARNING BY WATCHING

Educational Outreach and Training

Better understanding of marine biodiversity in the Philippine Seas is promulgated through various educational outreach activities in communities while technical training is provided to conservation managers and workers.

Some marine wildlife information materials for your use:

Pawikan Watch PH Materials - Download these Fact Sheets on Marine Turtles nesting in the Philippines. Learn more about the nesting pawikans in the Philippines.

The Green Turtle

The Hawksbill Turtle

The Olive Ridley Turtle

The Leatherback Turtle

What do the Pawikans need from us? - Download these resource on how you could contribute to marine turtle conservation in the Philippines.

Are you a tourist?

Are you responsible for managing areas used by marine turtles?

Are you a resort owner or do you have an establishment in areas where there are marine turtles?

Sharks and Rays 2020 Roadmap Brochure - 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.

2020 Roadmap brochure (English)

2020 Roadmap brochure (Tagalog)

2020 Roadmap brochure (Bisaya)

Shark Conservation Policy Brief 2021 - 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.

2020 Roadmap brochure (English)

2020 Roadmap brochure (Tagalog)

2020 Roadmap brochure (Bisaya)

• 1. Tourism
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• 2. Rescue Response

  

  Quick Response to Shark and Ray Incidents

  Rescue and Response Manual for Marine Mammals

  Rescue and response Manual for Marine Turtles

  Rescue and Response Manual for Sharks and Rays

  Response to Marine Mammal Incidents
• 3. CITES enforcement
  PH Protected Sharks and Rays ID Guide

WATCHING HOW WE LIVE

Each and every one could help marine wildlife everyday even if you are not at sea through mindful existence and sustainable living practices

To be developed

• MWWP PROJECTS

  Here are the ongoing and completed projects of Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines. With the support of our funders and partners here and abroad, we aim to continue protecting and preserving all endangered, threatened and protected marine wildlife in the entire archipelago.

CURRENT PROJECTS

• Ensuring the conservation of sharks, rays, in chimaeras in the Philippine Seas through policy development
• Conservation of marine turtles in their nesting beaches in Ilocos Norte
• Assessing the status of wedgefish fisheries in the Philippines
• Developing a training module for marine wildlife tourism interactions

PAST PROJECTS

• Philippine Marine Wildlife Conservation and Management