We are Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE)
OUR VISION
A SECURE AND PROSPEROUS OCEAN FOR MARINE LIFE AND PEOPLE
OUR MISSION
To protect marine megafauna in Southeast Asia, by investing in local people, building ocean leaders, and providing science-based tools to support the sustainable management of marine resources, for the benefit of the Filipino people.
OUR VALUES
SCIENCE-LED. COMMUNITY. TEAM WORK. INNOVATION. RESPONSIVE. FLEXIBLE.
We are a Filipino non-government organisation dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna.
We believe science, people and knowledge are key to protect the oceans and the species that call them home. Our team, who come from different backgrounds are united by a shared passion to ensure a secure and prosperous ocean for marine life and people.
LAMAVE began in 2010 as a project with the organisation Physalus as a marine mammal research expedition in the Bohol Sea - an incredible deep water trench in Central Visayas with strong currents and upwellings. It quickly became obvious that the Bohol Sea was a hotspot for marine megafauna, hosting not only cetaceans but also whale sharks, manta rays and turtles. We thus diversified our research efforts to encompass these other marine taxa. Over time the locations of our research sites grew as well, expanding our conservation impact across the country.
Working Nationwide
To date, our team has worked with governments and communities in over 9 provinces for the conservation of marine megafauna in the Philippines.
LAMAVE’s core team, February 2020
Where we work:
OUR STORY SO FAR
2019
First Manta Awareness Day in San Jacinto, Ticao, Masbate
1600th whale shark identified in the Philippines
Advisor to the Philippines on successful nomination of Asian small-clawed otter in Appendix I of CITES
Represented the Philippines at the 5th International Whale Shark Conference in Australia
2018
Completed the first full season studying whale sharks in Honda Bay, Palawan
Created the first national catalogue for manta rays in the Philippines
Started building a national open-access acoustic network for scientific research in the Philippines
2017
Research project on turtles in Apo Island
Research project on whale sharks in Northern Mindanao
Deployed mini PATs (satellite tags) on whale sharks in Palawan
Advisor to the Philippine Government for its successful nomination of the whale shark to Annex 1 of Conservation Migratory Species (CMS)
Conducted preliminary research in Manta Bowl, Ticao
Published our 10th scientific paper
2016
Launched "Their Future Our Future" awareness campaign on sustainable marine wildlife tourism in the Philippines
Began tagging whale sharks in Southern Leyte and Northern Mindanao
Preliminary whale shark research in Honda Bay, Palawan
Tagged the first tiger shark in the Philippines
Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) surveys in Apo Reef, Mindoro
2015
First shark research expedition to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Started work on a nationwide shark and ray assessment using Baited Remote Underwater Video systems
Research project on whale shark in Donsol, Sorsogon
2014
Formally registered as a Filipino NGO. Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines is born.
Published our first scientific paper on whale sharks
2013
Research project on whale shark in Southern Leyte
Featured on the BBC series “SHARK”
First participation in Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS)
Participation in the 3rd International Whale Shark Conference in Atlanta, Georgia
Biodiversity assessment in Mati, Davao Oriental
2012
Research project on whale shark in Oslob, Cebu
First Dolphin Festival in Tagbilaran, Bohol
First whale shark exploratory survey in Southern Leyte
The team's first sighting of a blue whale whilst on survey in the Bohol Sea
2011
Collaborated with Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Wildlife (BRUMW) and the Cebu Marine Mammal Rescue Network (CMARNET) to respond to marine animal strandings.
Information, Education Campaign in Bohol
2010
First research project in the Bohol Sea studying dolphins.