Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of ...

3) Malampaya Sound Research and ConservationProject – This is a study on population status<strong>of</strong> Irrawaddy dolphins, ecology, and by-catch.The project aims to sustainably manage <strong>the</strong> richbiodiversity and fisheries resources in ecologicallyimportant areas in <strong>the</strong> Philippines such asMalampaya Sound and to effectively manage andprotect <strong>the</strong> Irrawaddy dolphin population in <strong>the</strong>Sound.4) Stranding program – WWF-Philippines andlocal partners are establishing The PhilippineNational Marine Mammal Stranding Networkwhich is currently composed <strong>of</strong> rescue teamsfrom <strong>the</strong> provinces <strong>of</strong> Cagayan, Batangas,Palawan, Bohol, Negros Oriental and MisamisOriental, monitoring a total <strong>of</strong> 39 known cetaceansites throughout <strong>the</strong> Philippine archipelago. Thenetwork consists <strong>of</strong> 212 individuals trained toprovide <strong>the</strong> proper response and data collectionfor stranded marine mammals. Data and samplescollected from strandings are currently housed atWWF-Philippines.5) Cetacean By-catch Fisheries AssessmentProject – Recent and current research, particularlyon cetacean-fisheries interactions, was initiatedin 2001 through <strong>the</strong> WWF cetacean by-catchfisheries assessment project. This project is todevelop a long-term program for regular andsustained monitoring <strong>of</strong> cetacean by-catch infisheries at priority sites. The ultimate goal isto identify problem species and fisheries forfocused intervention and management planning,and specifically to implement pilot programs toreduce by-catch. Major activities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> projectwere: conduct <strong>of</strong> a site-prioritization workshopfollowed by validation through rapid assessmentprograms (RAPs) at selected sites; capacitybuildingthrough training <strong>of</strong> collaborators (e.g.,BFAR-NSAP regional project leaders and/orassistants) on cetacean identification and cetaceanfisheries data collection using <strong>the</strong> RAP; databaseand information management using GIS mappingand database programming; and development<strong>of</strong> initial by-catch reduction programs at heavilyimpacted sites (Doc. 29).Site-based research and monitoring program wereidentified for selected sites, particularly WWFprojects sites in <strong>the</strong> Philippines (e.g., MalampayaSound and Babuyan Islands) and in o<strong>the</strong>r prioritysites for cetacean-fisheries interaction researchand conservation management (e.g., Tañon Strait,Leyte Gulf, Gingoog-Butuan Bay and Moro Gulf).WWF-Philippines is currently working in TañonStrait (under <strong>the</strong> Tañon Strait Initiative Project)towards increasing stakeholders’ participationand capacity on marine conservation as well aspromoting collaborative management <strong>of</strong> TSPSby both <strong>the</strong> public and private sectors. The threeprimary goals <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project are communityand constituency building, marine biodiversityconservation, and policy advocacy.A joint research project that resulted directlyfrom <strong>the</strong> 1995 small cetacean and dugongworkshop was <strong>the</strong> preliminary investigation <strong>of</strong>marine mammal distribution, abundance, andinteractions with humans in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn SuluSea conducted in 1996. The project was funded byCMS, WWF-Philippines, Ocean Park ConservationFoundation and Southwest Fisheries ScienceCenter and provided an important stimulus tomarine mammal work in Malaysia and facilitatedcooperation among researchers in <strong>the</strong> Philippinesand Malaysia.Silliman University, in collaboration with <strong>the</strong>U.S. Southwest Fisheries Science Center, ScrippsInstitution <strong>of</strong> Oceanography, DENR, HaribonFoundation, U.S. National Science Foundation,International Foundation for Science (Sweden),Earth Island Institute, Whale and DolphinConservation Society (WDCS-UK), CMS and WWF-<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Biology and Conservation <strong>of</strong> Small Cetaceans and Dugongs <strong>of</strong> SE Asia 59