Sulubaaï Foundation

Sulubaaï  Foundation Coral reefs and mangroves are particularly targeted. It is a private initiative funded by eco-tourism.

Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation is a Philippine-based non-profit organization dedicated to conserve, protect, and restore the marine resources of Palawan for the benefits of local population. Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation is a Philippine-based non-profit organization dedicated to conserve, protect, and restore the natural resources of Palawan through environmentally sustainable practices and

active ecosystems restoration. In 2011, Sulubaaï Environment Foundation was born out of a common love for the ocean and desire to help the local communities of Palawan. We decided to implement the first project site on Pangatalan Island. At that time, we found the island in various states of damage – trees were cut, mangroves thinned, sand on the main beach was sold, and coral reefs were severely destroyed. Our first task was to prevent further damages : replant thousands of plants and collect seeds around the island for mangrove regrowth. In 2016, we added a new dimension to the project and started to focus our efforts on 45 hectares of Co-Managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) surrounding Pangatalan island. We started protecting, surveying and restoring marine ecosystems. Our projects include: coral reef restoration, mangrove regrowth, re-vegetation, education and eco-tourism. Our goal is to develop and implement sustainable ways on and around Pangatalan Island. We try to be as much as we can impact free on the environment and we financially support our projects through eco-tourism on the island. In 2021 we scale-up with the "Sea Academy" project for a sustainable management of the marine resources of Shark Fin Bay. The project is in partnership with 3 local villages who create their Marine Protected Area this year. Together with Pangatalan MPA these MPA represent a network of MPAs interconnected. The project includes 1) the management of the three MPAs, 2) innovative tools and research to evaluate their effects on local biodiversity and people, 3) active restoration of the coral reefs damaged by blast-fishing using artificial reefs and active restoration of fish communities using repopulation techniques 4) educational program on marine ecosystems and job training.

Congratulation to our Fisherfolks who attended the training on sustainable aquaculture ! Thank you BFAR Philippines for ...
13/05/2026

Congratulation to our Fisherfolks who attended the training on sustainable aquaculture !
Thank you BFAR Philippines for coming all the way to Taytay and sharing your expertise !

13/05/2026

Around 120 children in Taytay joined the SEAning Fest to promote ocean awareness and marine conservation in Palawan. | Click the link in the comment section to read this story ⬇️

Sulubaai joined forces with BFAR Philippines and GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries to celebrate the Month...
12/05/2026

Sulubaai joined forces with BFAR Philippines and GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries to celebrate the Month of the ocean with 100 kids of our schools !
Taytay Sandoval Nhs

12/05/2026

Meet Max!

His role at Sulubaai? Supporting local fishers, especially through the development of our community fish farming project, and leading DAGAT LEADERS, our program dedicated to training community leaders for sustainable marine resource management — quite a mission! 🌊💙

And Max has a message for you ☺️

Do you enjoy discovering the faces behind our projects? Leave a like, a comment or share this reel — it truly gives us strength 🙌

And by the way… Max just turned 40 🎂 Happy Birthday Max!
On vous présente Max ! Son rôle chez Sulubaaï ? Accompagner les pêcheurs locaux, notamment pour développer notre projet d’élevage de poisson communautaire, et gérer le projet DAGAT LEADERS, notre programme pour former des leaders des communautés pour une gestion durable des ressources marines, rien que ça !

Et Max a un message pour vous ☺️

Vous aimez voir les visages derrière nos projets ? Laissez un like, un commentaire ou partagez ce reel, ça nous donne beaucoup de force 🙌

Au passage… Max vient de souffler ses 40 bougies🎂 Happy Birthday Max !
Blancpain
AFD - Agence Française de Développement

Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia
Shark Fin Bay MPA Network
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines
WWF
Mission Blue
SMILO - Small Islands Organisation
Marine Conservation Institute
The Blue Quest
Cressi
DUNE WORLD

07/05/2026

Some dives stay with you forever 💙

In April 2026, during a fish survey conducted by Sulubaai teams in the Pabellon MPA, we were lucky enough to encounter this young dugong.

Its small size (around 2 meters) and smooth skin, with no visible scars or injuries, suggest it could be a healthy young male.

Around its head, you can also spot juvenile Golden Trevallies accompanying it and taking advantage of its movement. ✨

With its coral reefs, seagrass beds and rich marine life, the 600-hectare Pabellon MPA is already revealing incredible potential for marine biodiversity.

This year, Sulubaai continues its extensive fieldwork: monitoring fish biomass, studying coral reefs and marine habitats, conducting marine and terrestrial species inventories, and setting up surveillance for the protected area.

Like the other MPAs co-created with local communities, the goal is simple: allow marine life to regenerate, protect fish breeding grounds, and sustainably preserve the resources local fishers depend on. 🌊

………….

Il y a des plongées qu’on n’est pas prêts d’oublier 💙

En avril 2026, lors d’un recensement des poissons mené par les équipes de Sulubaai dans l’AMP de Pabellon, nous avons eu la chance de croiser ce jeune dugong.

Sa petite taille (environ 2 mètres) et sa peau intacte, sans blessure ni cicatrice visible, nous laissent penser qu’il pourrait s’agir d’un jeune mâle en bonne santé.

Autour de sa tête, on aperçoit aussi de jeunes carangues dorées (Golden Trevally) qui profitent de son déplacement pour l’accompagner.

Avec ses récifs coralliens, ses herbiers marins et sa faune, les 600 hectares de l’AMP de Pabellon révèlent déjà un potentiel exceptionnel pour la biodiversité marine.

Cette année, Sulubaai poursuit un important travail de terrain : suivi de la biomasse en poissons, étude des récifs coralliens et des habitats marins, inventaires des espèces marines et terrestres, et mise en place de la surveillance de l’aire protégée.

Comme dans les autres AMP co-créées avec les communautés locales, l’objectif est simple : permettre à la vie marine de se régénérer, protéger les zones de reproduction des poissons et préserver durablement les ressources dont dépendent les pêcheurs locaux. 🌊
Blancpain
AFD - Agence Française de Développement

Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia
Shark Fin Bay MPA Network
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines
WWF
Mission Blue
SMILO - Small Islands Organisation
Marine Conservation Institute
The Blue Quest
Cressi
DUNE WORLD

30/04/2026
Thank you Marine Conservation Institute for awarding our Shark Fin Bay Marie Protected Area Network as BLUE PARK ! Happy...
30/04/2026

Thank you Marine Conservation Institute for awarding our Shark Fin Bay Marie Protected Area Network as BLUE PARK !

Happy !!

🎣🌊 Because protecting marine ecosystems also means supporting the people who depend on them,we make sure that our Marine...
13/04/2026

🎣🌊 Because protecting marine ecosystems also means supporting the people who depend on them,
we make sure that our Marine Protected Areas also benefit local fishers.

Sulubaaï’s MPAs were created so communities can keep fishing—today and in the future.

Underwater, fish populations are increasing. But this impact must also be visible where it matters most:
👉 in the daily catches of local fishers.

To measure this, we conduct experimental fishing surveys in our sites outside MPAs, alongside local fishers.

For 10 days in march, across 38 sites, we replicated controlled fishing conditions:
— same locations as our underwater surveys
— 1 hour of fishing per site
— every fish identified and measured
— smaller fish released.

This work is led by Anna, our research officer, with WPU and fishers from Sandoval and Depla.
📊 This is our third survey since 2023.

Results coming soon—stay tuned!

Parce que protéger les écosystèmes marins, c’est aussi soutenir celles et ceux qui en dépendent,
nous nous assurons que nos Aires Marines Protégées bénéficient aussi aux pêcheurs 🎣🌊

Les AMPs Sulubaaï ont été créées pour permettre aux communautés de continuer à pêcher—aujourd’hui et demain.

Sous l’eau, les populations de poissons augmentent. Mais cet impact doit aussi se voir là où il compte vraiment :
👉 dans les prises quotidiennes des pêcheurs.

Pour le mesurer, nous menons des sessions de pêche expérimentale autour de nos AMPs, aux côtés de pêcheurs locaux.

Pendant 10 jours en mars dernier, sur 38 sites de Shark Fin Bay, nous avons reproduit des conditions contrôlées :
— mêmes zones que nos suivis sous-marins
— 1 heure de pêche par site
— chaque poisson est identifié et mesuré
— les plus petits sont relâchés

Ce travail est mené par Anna, notre chargée de recherche, avec WPU et des pêcheurs de Sandoval et Depla.
📊 Il s’agit de notre 3ᵉ étude depuis 2023.

Les résultats arrivent bientôt—restez connectés !

Blancpain
AFD - Agence Française de Développement

Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia

Cressi
DUNE WORLD
SMILO - Small Islands Organisation

University of the Philippines
Shark Fin Bay MPA Network
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines
Plongeurs du Monde
Mission Blue
The Blue Quest

10/04/2026

🐟 At Shark Fin Bay, our Marine Protected Areas were established to address a major challenge:

restoring fish stocks that have been heavily impacted by years of overfishing.

The principle is simple: protect certain areas to allow fish to grow and reproduce.
But to assess whether this approach is truly effective, we need to go into the field—underwater.

Each year, we monitor changes in the biomass of commercially targeted fish species, both inside and outside the MPAs, to measure:

🔹 the reserve effect (more fish within protected areas)
🔹 the spillover effect (more fish in adjacent zones)

In practice, this involves:
55 study sites, 3 weeks of fieldwork, and up to 4 dives per day per diver.
Our four scientific divers identify nearly 150 species and estimate their size visually, thanks to rigorous training and regular calibration sessions.

Demanding, essential work.

🙏 Special thanks to our partners who make this work possible:

Blancpain
Cressi

AFD - Agence Française de Développement
University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI)
Plongeurs du Monde
À Shark Fin Bay, nos Aires Marines Protégées ont été créées pour répondre à un enjeu majeur : restaurer des stocks de poissons fortement impactés par des années de surpêche, notamment.

Le principe est simple : laisser des zones en protection pour permettre aux poissons de grandir et se reproduire.

Mais pour vérifier l’efficacité de ce principe, il faut aller sur le terrain, sous l’eau.

Chaque année, nous suivons l’évolution de la biomasse de poissons ciblés par la pêche, à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur des AMPs, pour mesurer :

🔹 l’effet réserve (plus de poissons dans les zones protégées)
🔹 l’effet spill-over (plus de poissons aux abords)

Sur le terrain, cela représente :
55 sites étudiés, 3 semaines de mission, jusqu’à 4 plongées par jour par plongeur.

Nos 4 plongeurs-scientifiques identifient près de 150 espèces et estiment leur taille à l’œil nu, grâce à un entraînement rigoureux et des sessions de calibration.

Un travail exigeant et essentiel.

🙏 Merci à nos partenaires qui rendent ce travail possible :

Blancpain Cressi
AFD - Agence Française de Développement
University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI)
Plongeurs du Monde

09/04/2026

Free and at peace, this pawikan is right at home in the waters of Pangatalan 💙🐢

In our Marine Protected Areas, green turtle populations (pawikan in Tagalog) find the right conditions to feed, grow, and thrive.

Protected by law in the Philippines, yet still threatened by pollution, coastal development, and poaching, their presence here sends a strong signal:
👉 protection works.

Each sighting is a victory for the ocean—and a true joy for our entire team 🌊


Libre et paisible, cette pawikan est chez elle dans les eaux de Pangatalan 💙🐢

Dans nos Aires Marines Protégées, les populations de tortues vertes (pawikan en tagalog) trouvent des conditions favorables pour se nourrir, grandir et s’épanouir.

Protégées par la loi aux Philippines, mais encore menacées par la pollution, le développement côtier ou le braconnage, leur présence ici est un signal fort :
👉 la protection fonctionne.

Chaque observation est une victoire pour l’océan et un bonheur pour toute notre équipe 🌊
Blancpain
AFD - Agence Française de Développement

Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia
Shark Fin Bay MPA Network
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines
WWF
Mission Blue SMILO - Small Islands Organisation
Marine Conservation Institute
The Blue Quest
Cressi
DUNE WORLD

Address

Pangatalan Island, Dipla Barangay
Taytay
5312

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