Olive ridley turtle nests in the Philippines make it onto the global map! 🇵🇭
For the first time since ‘The State of the World’s Sea Turtles’ (SWOT) started their global mapping initiative, the Philippines was able to contribute olive ridley turtle nesting data, helping offer insights into nesting behaviors especially for places where arribadas do not occur.
Read MoreLAMAVE and the Philippines Siren team up for sharks
This January we (LAMAVE) teamed up for a third time with Worldwide Dive and Sail to bring an exclusive trip around the Visayas, Philippines. This trip was designed to visit Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) project site in Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, and sites where marine megafauna abound in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte islands…
Read MoreControlling a whale shark mass tourism destination: new study investigates crowding and tourist expectations
A new scientific study by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) and the University of Victoria (Canada) reveals that overcrowding is a significant issue for Oslob whale shark watching tours. The study presents management interventions aimed at improving the tourist experience and recommends reducing tourist numbers to 500 daily visitors….
Read MoreWhale sharks on the move in Southeast Asia highlight the need for further collaboration in the conservation of the species
Whale sharks tracked moving between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. For the first time researchers from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines have tracked whale sharks moving between the Philippines and Malaysia, and Indonesia, using satellite tags, photo-identification and citizen science…
Read MoreNew hope for sharks and rays as work begins on zoning Marine Protected Area
Palawan, Philippines, 10 May 2019 - Scientists from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) have set up an acoustic network to study shark and ray movements and habits in Cagayancillo….
Read MorePhilippines officially hosts world’s second largest known population of whale sharks
Philippines, March 3, 2019, The Philippines officially hosts the second-largest known population of whale sharks in the world according to Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a global online population catalogue used by scientists and the public. The Philippine population total, which now stands at >1,600 individual whale sharks…
Read MoreA new study reveals the impacts of whale shark mass tourism on the coral reefs in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines.
The collaborative research among the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the University of Guam (UoG), and the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) shows that whale shark tourism in Tan-awan, Oslob, Philippines has led to degradation of the local coral reef ecosystem…
Read MoreLiving and loving the simple life
I’ve learned to love this basic life we have on Apo Island. Waking up to dog barks and rooster calls at 6am and just sitting by the balcony enjoying the morning view with my cup of coffee and bread. Watching the team rushing to change into their research outfit and heading out for the first morning session at 7am. It’s always a joy to watch and identify the turtles in the water…
Read MoreDiving into science
It’s close to 6 o’clock in the morning. The sun rose just as we left the diveshop. The captain shouts “50 meters”. I better get ready, weights, mask, fins, air is open, okay I am good to go. I look at my buddy “ok”. The captain shouts “10 meters”. I look at my buddy: “ready? 3-2-1 go!” Backroll into the fresh, chilled water….
Read MoreDonsol attracts the Philippines largest whale sharks
A new scientific study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) has revealed that whale sharks in Donsol, Philippines are uncharacteristically larger than those found elsewhere in the Philippines…
Read MoreScientific study takes a deeper look into the reproduction of mobulid rays in the Philippines
A new scientific publication by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) was lead by researcher Joshua Rambahiniarison and aimed to determine life history and reproductive parameters for several mobulids caught in the Philippines to provide vital information on the sustainability of the exploitation and consumptive use of these megafauna, at the country level and worldwide.
Read MoreSatellite tag study reveals Philippine waters are incredibly important for endangered whale sharks
A new scientific study by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) and Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) on satellite tracking juvenile whale sharks in the Philippines has been published in the journal Peer J. To date, it is the most complete tracking study of whale sharks in the country, with satellite tags deployed on different individuals in multiple sites.
Read MoreLAMAVE Researcher Sue Ong gives us the low down on #IMCC5 in Kuching, Malaysia
Sue Ong, is a LAMAVE Project Leader, currently based on Apo Island, Negros Oriental. Originally from Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao, Sue shares her experience of attending her first-ever International Conference and why she is determined to pursue conservation goals in the Philippines. Here's what the passionate conservationist had to share...
Read MoreLAMAVE Re-joins the Sirens Fleet for a Special liveaboard trip this January 2019.
LAMAVE will once again board the Philippine Siren for a special liveaboard trip around the Visayas in the Philippines. The trip which will run between the 9-19 of January 2019 will take divers to some of the best sites in the Philippines while also offering guests the opportunity to assist LAMAVEs research on whale sharks, manta rays and turtles.
Read MoreScientists in the Philippines tag the biggest tiger shark so far
Puerto Princesa, Philippines, June 12, 2018 – Scientists from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) have successfully tagged a 3.5-meter tiger shark and three grey reef sharks as part of a long-term study in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
Read MoreLAMAVE celebrates Month of the Ocean (MOO) with DENR and partners
May 4, 2018, Apo Island, Negros. DENR-BMB and partners descended upon Apo Island, Negros Oriental to officially kick-off Month of the Ocean (MOO) 2018. This year's theme “Together for the Reefs” (“Sama-sama para sa Bahura”) compliments and coincides with the International Year of the Reef and aims to get everyone involved in protection the Philippine Seas.
Read MoreThe Guilty Pleasure of Swimming with Hand-fed Whale Sharks
Scientific study reveals tourist perspectives on the ethics of feeding whale sharks in Oslob, Philippines. Two-thirds of TripAdvisor comments that mentioned ethical issues were classified as “Guilty Pleasure”, whereby the tourists were aware of the moral and ethical issues of feeding an endangered species for tourism purposes, but still chose to do the tour and recommended it to others…
Read MoreFrom the pitch to the ocean
At the age of 18, I was attending my final year of pre-university education at my local school in the Netherlands. I was studying really, really hard (:p) and I was playing soccer at a pretty high level, something I loved to do….But then in the early season the worst thing I could imagine happened - I tore off possibly all the ligaments in my right-knee and at the same time, I had to do my finals…
Read MoreMissing; the world’s biggest fish
Today’s forecast; clear, sunny skies and a top temperature of 32°C – another glorious day. Whizzing down the coastal road, the breeze providing relief from the already sweltering morning sun, the smell of sea salt wafts through the jeepney. The excitement of soon submerging into the world below the surface builds. Once off the jeepney, each step brings you closer to cooling off with the giants of the deep, in today’s crystal clear blue sea.
Read MoreAs a volunteer, there is much work to be done, but there is also time to slack
Living “on project”, a day in the life of a LAMAVE volunteer is usually quite busy as there is always work to be done of some sort. Sometimes it’s easy to focus solely on the task at hand and not get out to enjoy what the rest of the island of Cebu has to offer. I find it’s extremely important to unwind and balance the work life with some personal time.
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