The Irrawaddy Dolphin Recovery Plan for the Irrawaddy Dolphin Population of Malampaya Sound

Document review presented during the Palawan Research and Policy Symposium: Science for Sustainable Development

A&A Hotel, November 7-8, 2013

Presenter:

Maria Victoria D. Matillano

WWF-Philippines

Outline

• Report Objective/s

• Background on the flagship species

• Science behind the “Plan”

• The Irrawaddy Recovery Plan: VMG

• The Irrawaddy Recovery Plan: Agencies involved/committed

• The Irrawaddy Recovery Plan: 10 years after

• Conclusions and Recommendations

Objective

• Summarize and analyse science-based policy development and implementation for species conservation

Irrawaddy DolphinsOrcaella brevirostris , Owen in Gray 1866

• Distribution: • Tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, • Borneo and the central islands of the

Indonesian Archipelago north to Palawan, Philippines, and west to the Bay of Bengal, including the Gulf of Thailand.

• Freshwater subpopulations in Ayeyarwady River (up to 1,400 km upstream) in Myanmar, Mahakam (up to 560 km upstream) in Indonesia, and Mekong (up to 690 km upstream) in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR,

• Two marine-appended brackish water bodies or lakes: Chilika in India and Songkhla in Thailand.

• 3 populations in the Philippines: Malampaya Sound, Taytay, Palawan (1986); Negros (2005); Quezon, Palawan (2013)

Irrawaddy Dolphins of Malampaya Sound

Classification:

Critically Endangered

Population estimate (2006):

39 individuals (photo-id)

Distribution:

Inner and Mid-portion of Malampaya Sound

Mortality Rate:

4 individuals per year

Threats:

Fishery By-catch (gear density)

Habitat degradation

Loss of natural food

The Irrawaddy Dolphin Recovery Plan (2003)

• Ave. salinity value: 22.5 – 33 psu

• Turbidity range: .09 at the outer sound to10.4 at the inner sound

• Sediment composition: Inner Sound is dominantly terrestrial while the outer sound is typically marine (corals, shells)

Science behind the “Plan”: Physical Characterization

Science behind the “Plan”: Terrestrial

• Mangrove (Rhizopora hybrid) found only in Malampaya Sound (PM Zamora, 2003)

• Number of endemic species of mangroves in Malampaya Sound equivalent to 50% of number for whole Palawan (PM Zamora, 2003)

• Birds species represent 87% of endemic species found in Palawan

• Mammals represent 35% of total endemics in Palawan

Science behind the Plan: Fisheries

Type of Fisheries Pelagic and Demersal

Production 1970’s: 19,000 tons (Estudillo et al)2002: 1,186 tons (Ingles, 2003)

Yield / area 1970’s: 8.2 tons per hectare2002 : 79 tons per hectare

Biomass 1978: 1,238-1,733t/km22002: no estimate

TOTAL LENGTH OF GILLNETS SET WITHIN MALAMPAYA SOUND FOR ONE YEAR IS ABOUT 71,700 KM. (Ingles, 2002: Status of fisheries in Malampaya Sound)

Science behind the Plan: Irrawaddy Dolphins (Aquino, WWF 2003)

• Population estimate: 77

• Limited habitat range: 155.7 km2 within Inner Sound

• Feed on shrimps and fish

• Prefer turbid, shallow waters with low salinity

• Limited effect of boats within 500 m radius; known to approach people in the water

• Low reproductive rate: 1 calf every 2-3 years

• Most common cause of mortality: fishery by-catch

• Other cause of mortality: boat strike, pollution

Science behind the “Plan”: IP Groups

• Tagbanua composed of 3 sub-groups (Liminangcong-Pancol, Banbanan, and Guinlo-Yakal)

• Conservation is a way of life (swidden farming, seasonality between fishing and farming, dolphin as climate/weather indicator, dolphin as co-operator in fishery activities)

VMO

• Vision: A stable Irrawaddy Dolphin population thriving in an ecologically balanced MS.

• Mission: Recover the population of Irrawaddy Dolphins in MalampayaSound to a stable level

• Objectives: • To eliminate dolphin mortalities due to human activities

• To restore and enhance the habitat of the dolphin while complementing existing management initiatives in MS

Targets and activities

• Reduce by-catch mortality • Regulation of fishery activities• IEC (Billboards, flyers, posters)• Identification and implementation of appropriate livelihood for marginalized fisherfolk• Red Data Listing for policy support• Irrawaddy Dolphin Rescue Team

• Elimination of boat strike mortality• Mapping of boat route• Development of guidelines for boat operators • Census and registration of fishers and boat owners

• Regulation on dolphin high-use areas

• Increase fishery productivity

• Maintain natural rate of erosion

• Solid Waste Management

Agencies

• DENR

• DepEd

• PCSD/S

• MSPLS PAMB

• Taytay LGU

• Fisherfolks Organizations and FARMCs

• NGOs

The Irrawaddy Recovery Plan: 10 years after• Major Policies: The Comprehensive Municipal

Fisheries Code of Taytay, Palawan (2004) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (2007) provide for the allocation of a fishery trust fund to include provision of financial support to the MSPLS for the management of its fisheries

• Irrawaddy Dolphin classification as Critically Endangered (IUCN 2004) elevated the importance of the population and the urgent need for its conservation.

• Irrawaddy Dolphin was recognized as the flagship species of Taytay town for tourism gaining popularity not only locally but on the international field as well.

• Enforcement: zoning for resource use especially fisheries vis-à-vis dolphin habitat range still needs to be addressed

• Habitat enhancement and/or restoration: mangrove planting; organic farming c/o DENR

• Introduction and application of complementary livelihood activities: BPP 2012 onwards

The Irrawaddy Recovery Plan: 10 years after

Conclusions/Recommendations

• Scientific data are only as good as its application.

• Science is a very strong basis for policy development but NOT for policy implementation (especially not the scientist).

• There is a strong need for data localization for a more adaptable policy framework.

• Should be managed wisely as it is also a very manipulative tool for exploitation of resources and communities.