Tropical Marine Research for Conservation
Helping conserve marine resources through research and community involvement.

Projects carried out since TMRC started in 2005:

  • Development of a Conservation Program for the Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Visayas in Line with the Coral Triangle Initiative National Plan of Action.  Together with Silliman University colleagues - doing consulting work for GIZ. 2012-2014.
  • Documentation of Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) occurrences in the Visayas and Mindanao. 2010-2011.  Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) and Mohammad Bin Zayed Conservation Foundation.
  • Ecology and Conservation of two coastal cetacean species: Tursiops aduncus and Stenella longirostris roseinventris. 2008. OPCFHK.
  • Assessment of Dugong Populations and its Habitat in Central Philippines – Phase 2. OPCFHK.  2007. In collaboration with SU-IEMS.
  • Survey of Marine Mammals in the Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridors (Verde Passage and Balabac Strait, Philippines). 2006. Conservation International-Philippines. 
  • Assessment of Dugong Population and its Habitat in Central Philippines, Phase I. 2005-2006. OPCFHK.  In collaboration with SU- IEMS. 
  • Initial survey and Planning for the Marine Mammal Program. 2005.  Consultant-Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (Wildlife), American Samoa Government.  
  • TMRC is also assisting marine mammal projects in Indonesia and in Malaysia.
 “ Major losses of biodiversity are more than aesthetic or academic; they eliminate future options for sustainable use, simplify ecosystem structure, and increase the risk of catastrophic declines in marine productivity, with severe implications for food security.”  
Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea. Balabac, Palawan. 2008.

  During surveys occurrence of marine turtles       
  and seabirds are also documented.  

Green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Malita, Davao. 2008
Fraser's dolphins Lagenodelphis hosei. Verde Island Passage. Batangas. 2006.
Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata. Balabac, Palawan. 2008
Booby, Sula sp. Balabac. 2008.
Sites of current and past TMRC projects in the Philippines.
Killer whales, Orcinus orca, off General Santos coast.
Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). Guimaras. 2009. Photo by T. Aquino.
  Cetacean skeletons collected from fishery by-catch and  directed catches (before cetacean protection was implemented directed fishery existed in the Philippines) are housed at the Institute of Environmental and Marine 
  Sciences (IEMS), Silliman University, Dumaguete City, 
  Philippines.