Love Letter to TAÑON STRAIT Stacy K. Baez, Ph.D., Charlotte Grubb, Margot L. Stiles and Gloria Ramos Tañon Strait PROTECTED SEASCAPE Bantayan Santa Fe Daanbantayan Medellin The Largest Marine Protected Area Visayan Sea IN THE PHILIPPINES San Remigio Cadiz Sagay Escalante Tabuela Tuburan Toboso Bacolod Asturias San Carlos Balambam Vallehermoso Toledo Cebu Pinamungahan Aloguinsan Gulhulngan Barili La Libertad Dumanjug Aloguinsan Jimalalud Ronda Tayasan Pescador Island Moalboal Ayungon Badian Bindoy Mantalip Reef Alegria Manjuyod Malabuyoc Bais Ginatilan Talabong Mangrove Park Tanjay Samboan Pamplona Amlan Santander San Jose Sibulan Dumaguete Bohol Sea 1 PH.OCEANA.ORG Modified from L. Aragones Introduction Bantayan Santa Fe Daanbantayan Medellin The Largest Marine Protected Area Visayan Sea IN THE PHILIPPINES San Remigio Cadiz Sagay Escalante Tabuela añon Strait Protected Seascape Colorful bangkas grace blue waters is the largest marine protected teeming with fish, and thatched roof Tuburan Toboso Tarea in the Philippines, and the nipa huts shelter families of farmers Bacolod third largest park, nearly as extensive as and fisherfolk all along the shorelines the two largest terrestrial natural parks of Negros and Cebu. Tañon Strait was Asturias in the Northern Sierra Madre and Samar declared a protected seascape in 1998, Island which protect the Philippine in honor of the 14 species of whales and Balambam San Carlos Eagle and other wonders. Tañon Strait dolphins which live within this special is their marine counterpart, with an area place. Several of the Philippines’ most 2 Vallehermoso Toledo of 5,182 km , more than three times the ancient and endangered animals have area of the Tubbataha National Park. also been sighted here, including the Cebu dugong and the chambered nautilus. Pinamungahan The Strait is extremely narrow (27 Aloguinsan km), long (160 km) and deep (500 m). Many marine animals seek safe passage Gulhulngan At its widest, the Strait is only 27 km, through Tañon Strait to travel between and narrowest near the south at a mere the Visayan Sea in the north and the Barili 5 km. The deep waters which attract Bohol Sea in the south. It is a migratory La Libertad Dumanjug Aloguinsan dolphins, whales, sharks and manta route for whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) Jimalalud Ronda rays extend down from the surface a and other giants. Coral reefs and their Tayasan Pescador Island Moalboal distance roughly half a kilometer. In colorful fish residents, various species of Cebu City, this is equivalent to a jeepney whales and dolphins, seagrass meadows Ayungon Badian ride between the Basilica del Santo Nino beneath nearshore waters, and diverse and Fort San Pedro. In Dumaguete, fisheries all can be found within this Bindoy Mantalip Reef this is equivalent to a walk between narrow corridor. Alegria the Dumaguete Cathedral and Silliman Manjuyod University. The Tañon Strait has a Tañon Strait is also one of the Malabuyoc coastline of 450 km. Philippines’ major fishing grounds, Bais Ginatilan Talabong Mangrove Park Tanjay Samboan Pamplona Amlan Santander San Jose Sibulan Dumaguete Bohol Sea OCEANA Protecting the World’s Oceans 2 Introduction a source of food and income for many residents in Negros and Cebu. The large dalupapa or diamond back squid (Thysanoteuthis rhombus) is frequently caught in these waters along with several other smaller species of squid. Abundant Diversity from schools of sardines are commonplace, particularly off the coast of Pescador SHALLOW TO DEEP Island. Tuna species can be found along the length of the Strait but tend to be found in higher densities in the southern portion. Fishing is a traditional form of livelihood for many residents, and an important part of the cultural heritage of the region. Large commercial vessels also seek shelter here, relying on ports within Tañon Strait to resupply for their journeys to the Sulu Sea and beyond. However, the beauty and bounty of Tañon Strait are under threat from destructive and illegal fishing. Fisheries across the Philippines have declined severely in our lifetimes, with fisherfolk catching roughly 90 percent less for the same amount of effort as they did in the 1950s. In Tañon Strait, signs of this overfishing include the extremely small sizes of fish typically sold in the market and the use of fishing nets with relatively small mesh. We must act now to protect the seascape from destructive fishing, illegal commercial fishing and pollution. It’s not too late for strong leadership, accountability and effective enforcement to stop these threats and ensure the resources of Tañon Strait continue to sustain future generations for many years to come. The beauty and bounty of Tañon Strait ARE UNDER THREAT FROM DESTRUCTIVE AND ILLEGAL FISHING. 3 PH.OCEANA.ORG WHALES, DOLPHINS AND DUGONGS Tañon Strait is one of the most important habitats for dolphins and whales in the Philippines. Of the 27 dolphins and whales found nationwide, 14 species have been observed in Tañon Strait. From the high- flying spinner dolphin to the shy dwarf sperm whale, Tañon Strait has a bit of everything. Like other mammals, dolphins and whales nurse their young and breathe air, making them very special animals in the ocean. There are many endearing marine mammals in Tañon Strait; this is just a small sample of some of the interesting species that can be found here. OCEANA Protecting the World’s Oceans 4 © Getty Images Whales, Dolphins and Dugongs STAR POWER: their back, light grey at their sides, and SPINNER DOLPHIN pale grey or white on the belly. A dark band runs from the eye to the flipper, The aptly named spinner dolphin bordered by a light thin line. Spinner (Stenella longirostris) is one of the most dolphins are relatively small ranging frequently seen inhabitants of Tañon between 1.3 and 2.4 m, similar to the Strait. This charismatic animal can length of a trike or mini-van. be seen frolicking near the surface in groups, and is often the star attraction Spinner dolphins are the most for dolphin watching enthusiasts. abundant dolphins in Tañon Strait with an estimated population of The spinner dolphin lives in tropical approximately 3,500 individuals. and subtropical waters around the Spinners are especially social and will world. They can be found between 40°N swim together with other animals, and 40°S, roughly the band around the including spotted dolphins, short- world between Japan and Australia. In finned pilot whales and Fraser’s the Philippines, the spinner dolphin can dolphins. These mixed schools can be be found throughout the archipelago. seen in Tañon Strait, but pure schools Spinner dolphins are the most widely of spinners-only are more common. distributed marine mammal in the Because it easy to see in the wild, often Philippines and are likely the most jumping and twirling in the air with abundant. These dolphins have slender apparent delight, the spinner dolphin bodies with a long thin beak. Their attracts many people who visit Tañon skin is colored by a dark gray cape on Strait expressly for dolphin-watching. © Getty Images THE SHY DWARF Though we usually think of whales as and white on the belly. This uneven SPERM WHALE giants, the dwarf sperm whale is the coloration disguises the whale making it tiniest whale in the world, reaching an difficult for predators to spot them. An estimated 670 dwarf sperm whales average of only 2.7 m fully grown. They (Kogia sima) live in Tañon Strait. This are even smaller than several dolphin Research suggests that dwarf sperm is a remarkable number of whales in a species. At the same time, this tiny whales primarily feed on squid and small area, with a population density 15 whale carries relatively hefty calves octopus. Tañon Strait may attract times higher than even the neighboring which are born already 1 m long. Dwarf whales because of the high density Sulu Sea. Unfortunately, these whales sperm whales have a conical pointed of squid. Dwarf sperm whales in the are very difficult to observe at sea snout and a small narrow distinctive Strait associate with spinner and because of their flat profile and shyness. lower jaw. They also have a false gill spotted dolphins, and remain in much Unlike the spinner or spotted dolphins, plate that resembles a fish’s gill cover shallower waters (255 m) than they do their swimming is slow and measured on the side of their head. Their pointed in other regions. When threatened, at the surface and they rarely approach snout and false gill plate makes this the otherwise mild-mannered dwarf boats. Most sightings are reported in species of whale appear shark-like. The sperm whale can squirt large volumes of calm waters. dwarf sperm whale’s body is counter- liquefied solid waste at the intruder. shaded, with dark grey on the back 5 PH.OCEANA.ORG Whales, Dolphins and Dugongs MYTHICAL DUGONGS also be found in groups, called a herd. In the Philippines, dugong sightings The ancient dugongs (Dugong dugon), average about five individuals, but can referred to affectionately as a sea cow or be as large as a group of 15-24 animals. sea pig, were common in the Philippine Archipelago until the 1970s. Since then, dugong populations nationally have been Dugongs have a very different body in decline and this animal is now believed shape than other cetaceans. Their to be one of the most critically endangered brownish-gray skin is sparsely covered mammals in the Philippines. The dugong with hair, with flippers similar to is the only living species in the dugong paddles and no dorsal fin. The lower part family since the only other member, of the body ends in a fluked tail similar Stellar’s sea cow, has been extinct since the to that of a dolphin, but the lower part of mid-1700s.