The global population of the whale shark, locally known as Butanding, has decreased by more than half in the last three generations, which resulted in it being endangered. During 2016, it was listed under the IUCN Red list of endangered species. The whale shark is deemed a tourism icon of the Philippines, making it part of the 100 peso bill.
Read More
The IUCN has made the net corals classified as endangered due to its declining population. The net corals has been targeted as a fine addition to aquariums and tanks because of its beautiful appearance. Coral bleaching has also been the leading cause of its likely extinction.
Read More
The Frog-faced Softshell turtle, also known as the Cantor’s giant softshell is a freshwater turtle located in various southeast asian countries, including the Philippines. Despite it being a turtle, its a carnivorous predator that eats fish, mollusks and crustaceans. It is reported to have grown up to six feet in length.
Read More
The manta rays are large fishes that mainly eat on planktons and cartilages. They live in warm temperate waters. The Philippines is one of the most ideal countries to find manta rays because of its special deep oceanic waters near the a rchipelago coastlines.
Read More
The manta rays are large fishes that mainly eat on planktons and cartilages. They live in warm temperate waters. The Philippines is one of the most ideal countries to find manta rays because of its special deep oceanic waters near the a rchipelago coastlines.
Read More
The Humphead Wrasse is included in the red list of IUCN for endangered species because of illegal fishing. Many local fishermen are oblivious and are still catching these fish even though they are still prohibited. The government is also at fault for neglecting these fish by not enforcing laws to protect them.
Read More
Photograph by WILDLIFE GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo
Dynamite Fishing or Blast fishing is when a fisherman uses dynamite or any form of explosives to stun or kill fish. This fishing method is widely practiced in many countries and regions across the globe. Dynamite fishing greatly damages marine ecosystems by destroying coral reefs and can kill different types of fishes within the blast radius. Read More
The United Nations has developed a new way of locating and stopping fishermen who use dynamite fishing through the use of technology that locates explosions in the ocean. Fishermen are discouraged to use dynamite fishing and report dynamite fishing activities to the proper authorities. Read More
Photograph by James Corvine/NOAA
Cyanide fishing was first used in the Philippines in the 1960s to supply the international aquarium trade. Cyanide Fishing is performed by crushing and dissolving Sodium Cyanide into squirt bottles and then spraying it onto fishes which stuns them and allows the fishermen to scoop them up. This damages and kills coral reefs where fish often live and breed in. Read More
Taking legal actions on fishermen who still use cyanide fishing by reporting them to the proper authorities. To stop the importation of fish products that are a result of cyanide fishing could help in preventing the further use of this method altogether. Read More
Photograph by shutterstock/Benny Marty
The Philippines is one of the world’s top contributors to marine plastic pollution, with 0.28 to 0.75 million tonnes of plastic entering the oceans and coastal areas per year. Read More
The Philippines aims to promote over 60% recovery and recycling of plastic by 2030. They also plan to create recycling facilities within Metro Manila to help lessen plastic pollution. Read More
Photograph by AP Photo/Aaron Favila
Overfishing in the Philippines has been a problem due to the fact that over 75% of the nation’s fishing ground has been depleted. This threatens the nation’s food source and the livelihoods of many within the Philippines. Read More
Regulation and limitation of fishing within Philippine waters to allow fishes to breed and multiply. A movement called Fish Forever also aims to help fishermen manage and regulate fishing within Philippine waters. Read More