NEWS

XDEEP welcomes LAMAVE into their Exploration Support Program

Diving is a crucial part of LAMAVE’s research to conserve endangered species: from deploying remote underwater video systems (RUVS) and maintaining our nationwide acoustic telemetry network to monitor shark and ray populations, to visual surveys during research expeditions….XDEEP supports marine conservation in the Philippines by adding LAMAVE to their Exploration Support Program, gearing our team with their state-of-the-art BCD lines — the NX Series Harness and NX Series Ultralight Harness.

NEWSKevin SatoMarch 27, 2023xdeep, LAMAVE Research Institute, LAMAVE, partnership, diving, dive gear, technical, philippines, diveComment

STORY

The Typhoon and the Seaweed Farmers

In December 2021, we launched a fundraiser asking you to support communities affected by Typhoon Odette including seaweed farmers in the remote island municipality of Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines. You responded and together we raised ~795,000PHP (~USD$15,000). In February of this year our team travelled to Cagayancillo to carry out the on-the-ground efforts. LAMAVE Director Sally Snow, shares an insight into the journey…

Press Release

Long term study reveals no improvement in the impact of the whale shark tourism in Oslob, Philippines over 6 years

A new study by researchers from the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) and published in the journal Royal Society Open Science show the continuous impacts of provisioning (hand feeding) on the behavior of whale sharks in Oslob, Philippines and how the tourism industry is failing to comply with regulations to protect this endangered species.

NEWS

Conservation in the time of COVID-19

It’s been 128 days since our team felt the ebb and flow of the Philippine seas, the taste of saltwater in our snorkels and the occasional stinger on our cheek. As individuals deeply connected to the sea, it’s been tough being “dry docked” but it’s also been an important time for us as an organisation…

PRESS RELEASE

Ecotourism Transforms Attitudes to marine conservation

A study has shown how ecotourism in the Philippines has transformed people’s attitudes towards marine conservation. Researchers from LAMAVE and University of Victoria in Canada visited three sites where tourists pay to swim with whale sharks in the wild. They interviewed a range of locals who work for the tour operators in Oslob, Donsol and Pintuyan, including fishers and ex-whale shark hunters.

PRESS RELEASE

Controlling a whale shark mass tourism destination: new study investigates crowding and tourist expectations

A new scientific study by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) and the University of Victoria (Canada) reveals that overcrowding is a significant issue for Oslob whale shark watching tours. The study presents management interventions aimed at improving the tourist experience and recommends reducing tourist numbers to 500 daily visitors….

NEWS

Whale sharks: what science reveals

We round up eight years of LAMAVE’s research on the iconic whale shark. The whale shark – also called butanding, tuki, tiki tiki, tawiki in local dialects - is a national icon of the Philippines. As we reach the end of 2019 and almost 8 years since LAMAVE first started studying whale sharks in the Philippines, we round up what we have learnt about these incredible sharks…

PRESS RELEASE

How lasers and photographs are helping scientists study endangered turtles in the Philippines

One of the challenges for conservation biologists is how to collect information in the most minimally invasive way they can to minimise disturbance. A recent study by Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines used cameras and lasers to study population and growth rates of green turtles from a distance…

PRESS RELEASE

Whale sharks on the move in Southeast Asia highlight the need for further collaboration in the conservation of the species

Whale sharks tracked moving between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. For the first time researchers from Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines have tracked whale sharks moving between the Philippines and Malaysia, and Indonesia, using satellite tags, photo-identification and citizen science…

NEWS

Rony’s Company Call Fundrauses for LAMAVE!

Sunday, November 11, “Rony’s Company Call – A Stage Door to Christmas” set the stage for Christmas, with a night of music, dancing, Santa hats and bubbles, all in support of LAMAVE!

CONVERSATIONS

Venturing Into The Wider World of International Whale Shark Research

LAMAVE attended the 5th International Whale Shark Conference (IWSC) held last 28-31 May 2019 in the town of Exmouth, WA Australia. Part of the organization’s contingent were LAMAVE researchers Ari Agustines and Tin Legaspi, the first Filipinas to participate in this conference.

NEWS

Ecology: Sharks under threat from fisheries

A new study published in Nature, International Journal of Science revealed that around one quarter of the habitats of oceanic sharks fall within active fishing zones, which may threaten these iconic ocean predators. The study spearheaded by David Sims and colleagues, brought together 1500+ satellite tracks globally from 150 scientists, including LAMAVE, and demonstrates an urgent need for conservation efforts to protect pelagic sharks, which reported to be in decline.

PRESS RELEASE

Pioneering partnership names its first Ocean Giants Scholars

The University and Ocean Giants Trust have created unique opportunities for marine biology and conservation undergraduates. Students from the University of Plymouth are being given the opportunity to work directly with international marine conservation organisations while completing their studies…

NEWS

LAMAVE touch down in Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area to attend the 5th International Whale Shark Conference #IWSC5

LAMAVE researchers Gonzalo Araujo, Ariana Agustine, Tin Legaspi and Dr Jackie Ziegler will join the world's leading whale shark scientists, conservationists, natural resource managers and tourism managers at the 5th International Whale Shark Conference hosted between the 28-31 May 2019 in the town of Exmouth, WA Australia.

NEWSSally SnowMay 28, 2019LAMAVE, LAMAVE Research Institute, ningaloo reef, IWSC5, Conference, whale shark, research, scienceComment

PRESS RELEASE

New hope for sharks and rays as work begins on zoning Marine Protected Area

Palawan, Philippines, 10 May 2019 - Scientists from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) have set up an acoustic network to study shark and ray movements and habits in Cagayancillo….

VOLUNTEER BLOG

Learning curves, good company and questionable Tagalog pronunciation

I am now nearing the end of my three-month placement in Puerto Princesa and it has flown by! The last ten weeks have been a truly wonderful experience, full of learning curves, good company, questionable Tagalog pronunciation and stunning whale shark encounters. When I told a few people at home what I would be doing next with my life they didn’t quite believe what I said…

NEWS

Women in Conservation: Research, Science, Sustainability, Empowerment

In celebration of Womens Month, we turn to the passionate, strong women leading some of LAMAVEs research and conservation projects across the Philippines. We ask what drives them and hear their take on scientific research and what motivates them to pursue conservation goals in the heart of the coral triangle…

PRESS RELEASE

Philippines officially hosts world’s second largest known population of whale sharks

Philippines, March 3, 2019, The Philippines officially hosts the second-largest known population of whale sharks in the world according to Wildbook for Whale Sharks, a global online population catalogue used by scientists and the public. The Philippine population total, which now stands at >1,600 individual whale sharks…

NEWS

What makes the Philippine Siren trip with LAMAVE this January so special?

This January 2019, LAMAVE Executive Director will be joining the Philippine Siren, for a ‘Special Siren Trip’ on a unique 10 day itinerary around the Visayas, Philippines. We caught up with Gonzo to find out more about what makes the trip so “special”.

PRESS RELEASE

Donsol attracts the Philippines largest whale sharks

A new scientific study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) has revealed that whale sharks in Donsol, Philippines are uncharacteristically larger than those found elsewhere in the Philippines…

LAMAVE Newsroom

Off the beaten track