Not only is it home to 360 coral species – almost half of all the coral species existing in the world today – it
provides shelter to 600 species of fish, 13 species of whales and dolphins
, 12 species of sharks, green sea turtles, nesting hawksbills and over 100 species of birds.
Why is the Tubbataha Reef important?
The Tubbataha Reef is an
important habitat sustaining a high diversity of marine life providing
the Sulu Sea and eastern coastline of Palawan with fish and invertebrate larvae. In the late 1980s exploitative fishing and the use of massively destructive fishing methods threatened the ecosystem.
Why is Tubbataha Reef considered as a natural heritage site?
It protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea. The property is
home to a great diversity of marine life
. Whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse are amongst the key species found here.
Why the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan the largest marine sanctuary is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites?
Outstanding
Universal Value. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park lies in a unique position in the centre of the Sulu Sea, and includes the Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley Reefs. It protects an area of almost 100,000 hectares of high quality marine habitats containing three atolls and a large area of deep sea.
How many species are in Tubbataha Reef marine Park?
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a marine protected area and world-renowned scuba diving site. It is home to
more than 1,200 marine species
, including sea grasses and algae, corals, sharks, rays, fishes, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals.
Who protects Tubbataha Reef?
Because it's so far from land, Tubbataha only started to feel the effects of human exploitation in the 1980's. Recognizing its great biodiversity value,
the government of the Philippines
first protected the area through legislation in 1988.
Is Tubbataha Reef under threat?
The area is
under a grave threat due to overfishing and destructive fishing practices
. Research of scientists visiting the reefs since the 1980s revealed that the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park contains no less than 600 fish species, 360 coral species, 11 shark species, 13 dolphin and whale species, and 100 bird species.
How old is Tubbataha Reef?
It was
established as a marine park in 1988
and was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. The marine park is about 160 km southwest of Cagayancillo, almost exactly in the middle of the Sulu Sea.
Where is the center of marine biodiversity why it was declared as the center of marine biomes?
This was at
the Verde Island Passage, a 10-mile wide strait between Batangas in southern Luzon and the island of Mindoro
, a cauldron of marine life so rich it is known as the center of marine biodiversity.
How is Tubbataha Reef protected?
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is legally
protected through national protected areas legislation
and a range of other environmental legislation which enable action to be taken against a wide range of threats.
Where is Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park?
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare Marine Protected Area (MPA) in
Palawan
, the westernmost Philippine province. It is located 150km southeast of Puerto Princesa City, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global centre of marine biodiversity.
What can we see in Tubbataha Reef?
Whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse
are amongst the key species found here. The reef ecosystems support over 360 species of coral and almost 700 species of fish. The reserve also protects one of the few remaining colonies of breeding seabirds in the region.
How do animals help coral reefs?
As animals eat the plants and other animals, energy is passed through the
food chain
. Reef building corals work together with microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissue. The zooxanthellae provide oxygen and food to the coral through photosynthesis.
