Philippines Marine Turtles Conservation
Five species of marine turtles are found in the Philippines, namely: green, hawksbill, olive ridley, loggerhead and leatherback. Only green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles nest in the Philippines and the rest forage in Philippine waters. Green and hawksbill turtles nest throughout the Philippines year round while olive ridley turtles nest mostly in the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Batangas, particularly from August to September.
Nesting population and egg production are used as indicators to assess the status and population abundance of marine turtles. Data gathered by the PAWB-Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP) in collaboration with DENR Regional Office, LGUs, non-government organizations and resort owners show an increase in the number of Olive Ridley complete nests and eggs produced in Morong and Bagac in Bataan and in San Antonio, Zambales from August 2004 to February 2009.
In Region XI, critically endangered hawksbill turtles have been observed to nest in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City and in other areas. A 5-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) covering the period from 2004 to 2009 has been forged between and among the DENR, the Mayor of Davao City and Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. for the conservation of marine turtles and dugongs (Dugong dugon).
Another well-known marine turtle nesting area is the Philippines Turtle Islands (also known as the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary or TIWS) and the Sabah Turtle Islands, which together, have been declared as the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA). TIHPA is the first transfrontier protected area for marine turtles in world and is composed of six islands administered by the Philippines and three islands administered by Sabah. It is a major nesting area for green sea turtles in Southeast Asia. Hawksbill turtles also nest in the area.
From 1984 to 2007, the DENR-PAWB Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP) recorded egg production and number of complete nestings at the Baguan Island Marine Turtle Sanctuary (BIMTS). Fluctuations in egg production and number of complete nests have been noted due to changes in weather patterns brought about by the El Nino or La Nina phenomenon, and predation by monitor lizards (Varanus sp.).
Another major threat to marine turtles is large-scale illegal harvest of eggs and collection for ornamental trade. Sixty percent of the turtle eggs produced in TIWS except Baguan Island (which produces more than 50%) are still being collected for trade. Prior to the passage of RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, collection of turtle eggs in designated islands of the Turtle Islands was regulated through a DENR permit system that allowed collection during the open season from April to December. Only 60% of the eggs were collected, the rest were conserved. After the passage of the Wildlife Act, the collection of sea turtles or any of its derivatives, including eggs, was prohibited. This has resulted to conflicts within and among stakeholders since egg collection is a source of livelihood and accounts for about 35% of the overall income sources in the area (Cola 1999 as cited in BFAR-NFRDI and DENR-PAWB, 2005). A proposal for a phase-out on the collection of turtle eggs and phase-in of alternative livelihood projects in TIWS under a Memorandum of Agreement among stakeholders has been finalized and is pending approval.
Marine turtles are also threatened by coastal development and fisheries practices, including foreign fishers poaching and targeting marine turtles within Philippine waters. Developmental and foraging habitats of marine turtles are being proposed for declaration as Critical Habitats pursuant to Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. Fishery impact on marine turtles is also a major issue. From a perception survey conducted by the DA-BFAR, gillnet, fish corral and set net are the fishing gears that are most likely to catch marine turtles (DA-BFAR, 2007). Actual reports gathered by the PAWB-PCP throughout the country through its tagging program reveal that fish corral, gillnet and hook and line are the fishing gears that capture most turtles.
The Sulu Sea is a favorite poaching area of foreign fishers targeting marine turtles. In the last decade, over a thousand foreigners (over 600 are Chinese) have been arrested and charged for poaching in the waters of Palawan alone (WWF-Philippines, 2008). Recent reports show a substantial number of green turtles killed by 19 Chinese fishers in TIWS in September 2007 and 101 hawksbill turtles killed by 13 Vietnamese fishers in Linapacan, Palawan in August 2008. This practice has generated national and international attention and has increased vigilance in law enforcement in these areas.
Article Source – Philippine Clearing House Mechanism for Biodiversity
