A 97,030-hectare marine sanctuary in Palawan, Philippines, is at the core of the Coral Triangle, the world's center of marine biodiversity. Tubbataha's strategic location in this biodiversity hotspot underscores its crucial role in marine conservation and sustaining ocean life. As the largest marine protected area (MPA) in the Philippines and a strictly 'no-take' zone, Tubbataha is pivotal in pres
International Designations
UNESCO
1993
UNESCO designated Tubbataha Reefs as a World Heritage Site for its pristine reefs, rich biodiversity, and as a critical habitat for endangered species, acknowledging its global ecological significance.
RAMSAR
1999
Listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance for its diverse species, serving as a crucial habitat and breeding ground for birds, turtles, and the endemic Black Noddy in Southeast Asia.
Asean Heritage Parks
2014
Declared an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP), the first Philippine marine protected area to receive this recognition.
EAAFP
2015
Tubbataha was recognized as one of three Flyway Network Sites in the Philippines under the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).
IMO
2017
Tubbataha was declared a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
BlueParks
2017
Awarded as the first-ever Platinum Global Ocean Refuge System (now known as the Blue Parks) along with two other sites.
Hope Spot
Hope Spot
Hope Spot
2022
Named a "Hope Spot" by Mission Blue, highlighting its critical role in ocean health.
Illegal Use
Illegal fishing activities drastically decreased since 2011, with only one arrest each year in 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2023. However, illegal fishing is a perennial concern as fish productivity dwindles, thereby requiring park authorities maintain enforcement effort, capacity, and investment.
Inadequate Infrastructure
The Tubbataha ranger station was constructed in 2000. Over a decade of battering by winds and waves has caused seawater to seep into the concrete, ultimately causing support beams to rust, expand, and weaken.
Marine Debris
Climate Change
Climate Change
Clean-up efforts show that most of the debris (30% for 2021) is plastic manufactured in other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Being external in origin and global in scope, an effective response to this issue may be beyond the capacity of the TPAMB and the TMO.
Climate Change
Climate Change
Climate Change
Extreme temperatures caused by climate change resulted in coral bleaching, which affected up to 20% of the hard coral cover of the park in 2020. Hard coral cover continued to decline in 2021, indicating that some sites failed to recover from its impacts.