TRAVEL REPORT

CONDUCT OF MARINE TURTLE POST NESTING AND HATCHERY MANAGEMENT

ASSESSMENT CUM GEO-TAGGING OF THE COAST WATER LINE
IN THE SELECTED MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF BATAAAN
April 24 – 28, 2017

Highlights during the conduct of marine turtle nesting sites assessment, geo-tagging and
conservation and management in the Municipalities of Mariveles, Limay, Bagac and Morong
in the Province of Bataan.

1. The Team was composed of technical staff from the Wildlife Resources Division
(WRD) and Coastal and Marine Division (CMD).

2. The Team target nesting sites were Mariveles (Talain, Biaan, Mt.View, Carmen, Pinag-
apugan, Camaya Coast,) Limay (kitang II) and Morong and Bagac. Bagac’s nesting
sites (Montemar, Paysawan, Saysain, Pag-asa-Bagac, Sibacan, Look, Cabayo and
Acuzar) and Barangay Nagbalayong and Poblacion.

3. The following activities are revisited identified nesting sites, geo-tagging were
implemented and established coordinates of water line of its coast for baseline mapping:

In Mariveles, the following sites visited are the following:

Camaya Coast, Biaan

 Camaya Coast Resort in Biaan, Mariveles – the Team was accompanied by staff of
the Office of the MENRO and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Rescue
Team. At the CAMAYA Resort the Team was assisted by Mr. Mark Anthony
Daruca (in-charge to secure marine turtle eggs laid within beach of the resort.
 A total of seven (7) nest were transplanted by Mr. Daruca in the hatchery which
consists of 717 olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) eggs.
 A total of 616 olive ridley were hatched and release from December to 10 February
2017.

So. Porto, Biaan

 Sitio Porto on an irregular dates olive ridley turtle do nest in the said area,
considering that the a great portion of the beach have eroded or extracted for
constructing building/residences a thin layer of black beach sand were observed.
In December of 2015 an olive nest was recovered by a volunteer of pawikan
patrollers. The nest was discovered when they noticed that a feral dogs was
digging something that struck their attention. It was found out that it was turtle
eggs.

Sitio, Talain, Biaan

 Members of Biaan Pawikan Conservation conducts patrollers at the same time

maintaining the hatchery reported that only 1 nest was recovered last August.
The recovered eggs were transplanted in the hatchery into two (2) Clutches Nest
1 – 50, Nest 2 – 40 eggs. After 2 months nothing emerged from the two nest.
 The Team excavated and evaluated both nest, it was found out that none of the
eggs developed. It was initially determined that the eggs were submerged in the
marine water before the volunteer recovered the egg from the natural nest. Upon
examination eggs appeared dehydrated and no sign development.

Sitio, Pinag-apugan, Lucanin-Townsite

 The Team revisited the hatchery site in Sitio Pinag-apugan, the skeletal frame
of the hatchery remains erected but the screen enclosure were all gone.
According to Mr. Jose Sapo a volunteer from the said Sitio, the hatchery contain
three (3) nest or about 300 eggs. He intended not to install marking so that local
resident would not attempt to dug-up the turtle eggs. We inform him that the
hatchery must be enclosed and the nest transplanted with a screen to preempt
people from stepping or going inside the hatchery. Unfortunately, we observed
that laundry cloths were hang for drying. The said situation is not in conformity
with the protocol as prescribe the Marine Turtle Manual. Mr. Sapo responded
that he will enclosed the hatchery since there is available screen from the
previous materials supplied by CENRO-Bagac-Manila Bay Project.
 It has been noticed that block of concrete from the replaced pavement were
dumped along the beach of Sitio Pinag-apugan. At present no direct effect on
the residents has be reported probably it has no effect for now.
 No additional nest was reported by Mr. Sapo after 300 eggs recorded last
November visit by the team.

Sitio Mountain View, Villa Carmen, Cabcaben

 The Team also revisited Sitio Mountain View’s volunteer Mr. Wenceslao
Virtuso. Mr. Virtuso reported that he has not monitored nesting incidence in
their area yet. Although he has prepared a site where he can transplant marine
turtle eggs/nest in case nesting occurs. Two locals in the Sitio Mountain view
mentioned that they monitored two (2) nestings of turtles along the beach west
of the prawn hatchery. Unfortunately, none of them confirmed if the said nests
produced hatchlings.

Kitang II, Limay, Bataan

 In Kitang II, Mr. Gerard Cordova remained volunteer for an opportunistic

monitoring of nesting turtle. He secured a single nest (In Situ) by placing
bamboo poles around the nest and set a small table that covers the nest from
direct hit of the sun. Mr. Cordova mentioned that nesting might happened in the
densely populated areas but no reports on the account of nesting or number of
eggs collected. On December 3 hatchlings emerged from an in situ nest but said
nest accordingly was hit by salt water. Another nest emerged on 11 March 2017,
it was not accounted since young kids collected it along the beach and the rest
swum in the water. Two (2) turtles was found stranded along the coast believed
to be entangled in fishnet and drowned.
 Bagac, Bataan

 Nesting in the following areas such as Sitio Paysawan, Sitio Saysain and Fajardo
Resort and Acuzar beach all of Barangay Pag-asa was confirmed by locals in
the area. Accordingly, eggs collected along the beach were transported to
Montemar and transplanted in their hatchery. As of the team visit data from
Montemar is in the process of consolidation but assured that they will submit it
to CENRO-Bagac.

Data submitted by Montemar Beach Club to CENRO-Bagac

YEA TOTAL NO. OF TRANSPLAN TRANSPLAN HATCHLING
R NESTTI EGGS TED NEST TED EGGS EMERGED/RELE
NG CONSER ASED
VED
2012 127 11489 247 11489 5289
2013 96 9002 198 9002 7762
2014 229 21937
2015 71 6569
2016

Marine turtle monitoring, conservation, protection and intervention implemented by LGU’s

partner in the respective areas.
Location Species Nesting Season – number of marine turtle eggs Remarks
conserved
Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
Mariveles,
Bataan
Brgy. Biaan O.R. 103 520 94 Total of
– Camaya 717 with
Coast Resort 660
hatchlings
released
Sitio Talain, O.R. 90 Data
Biaan incomplete
So. O.R. 300 Data
Pinagapugan, incomplete
Brgy
Townsite
 So. O.R. 0 2 Data
Mountain nest incomplete
View, (In situ)
Cabcaben,
Mariveles
KitangII, O.R. 1 1 Data
Limay, nest nest incomplete
Bataan (In situ)
Montemar
Beach Club
data to follow
Legend: O. R. Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) dominant species nesting within
the coast of manila bay area.

In Morong Bataan

 The Team conducted nesting beach assessment and conducted geo-tagging on

the high mark and low tide also low tide water line of the coast of Barangay
Nagbalayong up to the middle coastline of Morong Poblacion.
 With the newly acquired three (3) all terrain vehicle (ATV) form the Office of
the Governor of Bataan. An increase of 40.35 % of eggs collected and
transferred to the hatchery as of this month (November 2016) with 11947
compared to last July to November 2015 collection with only 8512 eggs.
 With the used the ATV a farther range of patrolled beach can be accessible or
monitored by the rangers compared to previous patrol activity where in foot
patrol were limited to about 2 kilometers nightly patrol. At present the patrollers
was able to deploy at least three rounds patrolling to about five (5) kilometers
of beach stretch reaching the Poblacion of the Morong Town. Despite the
increase in the number of nest or eggs collected for conservation on Nov 26,
2016 while conducting an educational monitoring of turtle nesting incidence
seven (7) nest were poached on the northwest coast of Nagbalayong. The Bantay
Pawikan Inc. patrollers sought the need to intensify its monitoring activity.

Marine Turtle Nesting Incidence and Eggs Conserved for 2016

AREA NESTING REPORT

BATAAN COMPLETE LOST EGGS CONSERVATIO
NEST CONSERVE N PARTNER/S
D
Upper 4 0 270 Camaya Coast
Biaan
So. Talain, 1 0 90 Talain Pawikan
Biaan-Balon- Conservation
anito Center
 Villa 0 0 0
Carmen
Pinag-apugan 3 undetermin 300 1 Volunteer
ed

Kitang II 1 0 In situ 1 Volunteer

Nagbalayong 132 10 10,934 Bantay Pawikan

-Poblavcion Inc.

Bagac REFLECT
DATA FROM
MONTEMAR

The following data are Olive ridley nesting season record covering from September to
November and on time with the assessment activity.

Distribution of Tags and Applicators

AREA CONSERVATION NUMBER OF NUMBER OF REMARKS

PARTNER TAGS APPLICATOR
Nagbalayong, Bantay Pawikan, 40 pcs 0 Supplemental
Morong Inc PH0736K- tags
PH0750K
PH0775K-
PH0800K
Mariveles MENRO, 10 pcs 1 For the use in
Mariveles c/o PH0726K- MT tagging
Reshell PH0735K
Mariveles Porto, Biaan c/o K. 10 pcs For the use in
Gepiga PH0716K- MT tagging
PH0725K
Mariveles Talain, Biaan 15 pcs 1 For the use in
c/o Paula G. PH0701K- MT tagging
Lagacas PH0715K

Distribution of Philippine Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Response Manual – Marine

Turtle

AREA CONSERVATION NUMBER OF PERSONNEL REMARKS

PARTNER MANUAL
Balanga, PENRO - CDD 1 Mila Ramirez CDD-Manila
Bataan Bay Focal
Officer
reference
Balanga, Technical staff 1 Jacel Agrimano For the use in
Bataan MT reference
 Mariveles MENRO, 1 Reshell For the use in
Mariveles Concepcion MT reference
Mariveles Mun-Mariveles 1 c/o Reshell For the use in
Concepcion MT reference
Mariveles Porto, Biaan 1 Kingdom For the use in
Gepiga MT reference
Mariveles Talain, Biaan 1 Paula G. For the use in
Lagacas MT reference
Biaan, Camaya Coast 1 Engr. Danilo For the use in
Mariveles Biaan San Pedro MT reference
Dinalupihan, CENRO, 1 Max For the use in
Bataan Dinalupihan MT reference
Anvaya Cove Environment 1 Kate Lim For the use in
Officer MT reference
Morong, Bantay Pawikan 2 Manolo Ibias For the use in
Bataan MT reference
Bagac, Bataan CENRO, Bagac 1 Leonisa Ibasco For the use in
MT reference

General Hatchery Assessment

Base on the initial assessment of the egg from the hatcheries from the different sites visited,
the team finds that hatchery should be supported with a more thicker shades than that of just
a netting material. Coconut thatch is a cost effective alternative to lessen too much heat
penetrating inside the hatchery.

Nest excavated shows high mortality of embryo while in the developmental stage. Factor of
the embryonic death can be attributed probably to the increasing heat in the sand exceeding the
turtle egg pivotal tolerable temperature. Too mitigate high mortality which may had ill effect
on eggs under incubation can be remedied through monitoring temperature. High fluctuation
of temperature can be monitored using thermometer data logger (digital) and Alcohol filed
thermometer should be installed in all nesting areas with high nesting incidence and hatcheries.

Sea level rise

Based on observation comparing with the coastline profile and casual conversation with local
residents. Accordingly, rate of erosion in the beach or coastline had increased. Structures
erected along the coast has been damaged as evidence effected by the sea level rise and possible
shifting of beach profile. Not only that coastal establishment were using heavy equipment for
some to protect their properties by constructing breakwater or sea wall depending on the
resources of the owners fronting the coast. An initial data were collected by the team to
establish a baseline on the high tide level and low tide with a use of Global Positioning System
(GPS) reading. At the same time the low tide water line using the gps coordinates were recorded
from the southern tip of the beach of barangay Nagbalayong to halfway of the Poblacion of
Morong, Bataan. The Team realized that a vulnerability assessment is deems necessary to be
conducted in the coastal Provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite.
Threats

For the past two years of visiting the town of Limay and old industrial area was learn not in
operation, the said beach within the compound of the old industrial park is a natural nesting
ground for olive ridley. It has been reported by former barangay officials have recovered nest
and able to hatched egg which later release hatchling back in the wild. Just recently, during the
assessment the team witnessed that the said old industrial park now an oil depot in operation.
More boats are anchored along the jetty of the said oil depot. It has been observed that a number
of concrete blocks which were used in developing the jetty were just abandoned coast of
Barangay Kitang II where it served as unloading area of equipment and materials for the oil
depot. If operation of the boats and depot were not properly monitor the improper disposal or
leakage may result to the destruction of the natural resources within the coast of Limay and
nearby Municipality and Manila Bay itself.

Different materials of waste were observed in many places visited by the Team. The worst
scenario to come if all the plastics left uncollected within the water of Manila Bay. Fragments
of plastics which has a capacity to absorb pollutant and may engulf with algae. Said plastic
coated with algae will be mistaken to be food by fish and other wildlife such as turtles which
attributed to the death of several turtles from Manila Bay. The worst is that all fish catch from
Manila Bay may possess matters ingested by individual fish will be pass on to the consumers
(human). A much bigger problem is at stake not just the water of Manila Bay which is a good
swimming or recreational site for the Metro Manilenians.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. All hatcheries should be provided with a denser covering/roofing extended to the west
portion of the hatchery to cover more shading while the sun sets down due west. A
coconut thatch can be a good material for the shading,

2. Both digital (passive) and manual monitoring of thermometer should be installed in the
nesting sites and established hatcheries,

3. A technically trained and regional staff should conduct nest evaluation from January to
March to validate more nest both In Situ and Ex Situ,

4. Temperature data should be processed and correlate with the result in the hatching
success if possible in In Situ and Ex Situ,

5. A re-orientation of all area local partner implementing marine turtle conservation

activities is a must after every nesting season.

6. If warranted, to extend monitoring sites and increase conservation partnership with

local government and the communities,

7. To continue the conduct of assessment of nesting sites which were not covered for this
year’s activity,

8. To continuously conduct IEC in schools and coastal communities.

 9. The importance of tagging and data gathering regarding recaptured turtles with applied
inconel tags should be emphasized as these data are the very essence for sea turtle
population and migration studies.

10. The Team recommends that BMB-Manila Bay Project should allocate funds for the
immediate replacement/purchase and repair of the hatcheries including the new
hatchery relocation.

Submitted by:

NILO B. RAMOSO, JR. RENATO U BORJA

Intelligence Officer I Sci-Research Analyst I

JERRY R.D. DAMASEN ALDRIN DIVINA

Data Administrator/GIS Marine Turtle Conservation
Coordinator for Manila Bay Project

ARVIN NUALDA
PEO III