The recovery is on at Tubbataha

These identifications are welcome news for the treasured location, now a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that is recognized as a major source of fish and coral larvae that seed the wider Sulu Sea. Tubbataha was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993.

The WWF has been partnering with the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park management since the late 1990s, providing funds and technical assistance to ensure a permanent presence of onsite park rangers. So far, the signs are encouraging, pointing to increasing shark populations that include grey reef, whitetip reef, silky sharks as well as marble rays.

As researched by WWF allies LAMAVE (Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute Philippines), who have been conducting video surveys of sharks and rays at Tubbataha, the LAMAVE team found a variety of 22 species present, although some were too deep for divers.

For species such as tiger sharks, it means word is getting out that the Tubbataha MPA is a protected area – good news for the WWF, which plans to encourage the designation of more such MPAs in the coming years. Locations include the neighbouring Cagayancillo municipalty, where discussions with communities are underway to create areas to protect sharks for tourism.

Dr. Andy Cornish, Leader for WWF and TRAFFIC Sharks and Rays Initiative, said “Tubbataha is one of a handful of sites in Southeast Asia where sharks are actually making a recovery. WWF is expanding our MPA work globally – including commissioning a practical guide on how to best protect sharks – encouraged by the success of Tubbataha and others like it.”