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“Tubbataha has the largest population of white- tip reef sharks. It is also a rookery for seabirds that breed in Bird Islet and depend on the marine life to feed its young.”
Besides being a mecca for divers, Tubbataha is also vital to the country’s food security. In Tubbataha: A National Treasure, Dr Hazel Arceo explains that its protected area can potentially yield around 3.6 million kilograms of fish per year. This means the Tubbataha alone can meet the annual per capita requirement of 110,000 Filipinos. “We invested funds in informing fishers that Tubbataha is off-limits to fishing because it serves as a nursery for fish; that it is important to our food security because it enriches surrounding fishing grounds,” Songco stresses.
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was inscribed in the Unesco World Heritage list in 1993 for having met three criteria: exceptional natural beauty; significant ongoing ecological and biological processes; and significance as a natural habitat for on-site conservation of biological diversity. And how important is this recognition? Songco says, “To be valued by the whole world as irreplaceable and of outstanding universal value can bring greater awareness and appreciation, and with that, greater support.”
The Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) also takes the management of the park seriously. “Law enforcement is a core activity, but so is communication and education. We place a high premium on the support of the private sector to protect the park. We invest in building the capacity of our staff and stakeholders to manage Tubbataha, and in inter-institutional collaboration,” Songco explains. To date, the park serves as a regional and global model of efficient management of a marine protected area. “It was named one of three best managed no-take marine protected areas in the world in 2017,” she continues. The underwater photojournalist Yvette C Lee adds, “People can only visit approximately three months out of the year. Thus, human impact is very low. Couple that with strict enforcement and information, education and communication campaigns by the TMO staff, visitors can expect to be in a pristine environment.”
When visiting Tubbataha, expect an astounding journey ahead. As Songco puts it, “Diving in Tubbataha is like a visit to Africa. It is wild and unpredictable.” Lara agrees, sharing a guest’s memorable comment: “This place is like an underwater safari; it is so full of life that the reef pulsates. You never know what to expect!”.
For more info, visit www.tubbatahareefs.org. Help protect the Tubbataha Reefs by supporting the book, Tubbataha: A National Treasure. All proceeds go to the protection and welfare of the park and the rangers. Email at tubbatahanationaltreasure@gmail.com
“Diving in Tubbataha is like a visit to Africa. It is wild and unpredictable”
— ANGELIQUE SONGCO