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Philippines

Bacuit Bay

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Conservation benefit: Installation of mooring buoys to reduce damage to coral reefs

Date Approved: 06.2013

Ocean

This project protects ocean ecosystems, making coastal communities more economically and physically secure in the face of climate change.

The beautiful island of Palawan, especially the Municipality of El Nido, on its west coast, is having a tourism boom. Some local businesses, such as small-scale resorts and snorkeling and scuba tour operators, profit directly. Others, such as laundry services and high-value vegetable farms, see indirect benefits.

The communities know that tourists come for the beaches and coral reefs. The barangays (villages) of Maligaya, Buena Suerte, Masagana, Aberawan, Manlag, Corong-corong, and Bebeladan have already declared 30 areas as no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), totaling 2,251 acres. Most everyone is trying to protect the reef. In particular, boatmen take care to drop anchor only in designated areas. However, repeated dropping of anchors, even if done on the fringes, still damages the reefs. Moreover, some tourists don’t understand the dos and don’ts of keeping coral damage at a minimum.

The Municipal Tourism Office, the Municipal Tourism Council (private association of guides and resort owners), and the El Nido Foundation plan to install permanent mooring and marker buoys in the MPAs. Boats will be able to tie up without dropping anchors on fragile coral. The groups will also encourage guides to carry cards (in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and other languages), spelling out rules of conduct for tourists. A Seacology grant will fund the purchase and installation of mooring buoys in support of the MPAs.

Project Updates

May 2018

Working with local dive and snorkeling tour operators, ENF has installed the last 21 mooring pins at sites frequently visited by tourist boats. This brings the total number of moorings to 120 and completes the project. ENF is also maintaining the moorings.

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January 2018

The El Nido Foundation has installed 21 more mooring pins at sites frequently visited by tourist boats, bringing the total of mooring pins and buoys to 99. There is continuing difficulty with installing the remaining units, which require special equipment because of the substrate. Delivery of the pins is scheduled for January 2018.

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May 2017

The El Nido Foundation has just placed orders for local fabrication of the first two types (three types are needed) of embedment anchors that will be used.

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