Malampaya Sound

Last updated
Malampaya Sound
Philippines relief location map (Palawan).svg
Red pog.svg
Malampaya Sound
Location within the Philippines
Philippines relief location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Malampaya Sound
Malampaya Sound (Philippines)
Bulletin of the Geological Society of America (1918) (19827543704).jpg
1918 Coast Survey chart of Malampaya Sound
Location Palawan, Philippines
Coordinates 10°50′36.96″N119°22′13.44″E / 10.8436000°N 119.3704000°E / 10.8436000; 119.3704000
Settlements Taytay

Malampaya Sound is a protected inlet of the South China Sea on the northwestern coast of Palawan Island in western Philippines. It is a geographic sound consisting of a complex of sheltered bays, coves, estuaries and islands separated from the sea to the west by the Copoas Peninsula. The sound is within the municipality of Taytay and is an important feature for the ecology and economy of the province of Palawan. It is considered one of the finest natural harbors in the Philippines and one of Palawan's richest fishing grounds. [1] [2]

Contents

The entire embayment and its surrounding landscape was declared a marine protected area in 2000 known as the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape. [3] It covers 200,115 hectares (494,490 acres) of both aquatic and terrestrial environment with diverse ecosystems consisting of mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds, and a variety flora and fauna endemic to Palawan. The sound is the only known habitat of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Philippines. [4]

Description

Malampaya Sound is about 34 kilometres (21 mi) long in a southeasterly direction with breadths of between 3.2 and 7 kilometres (2.0 and 4.3 mi). It is separated into the shallow brackish "inner sound" and deep saltwater "outer sound", with the division being a group of 13 small islands, the largest being Passage Island, located in the narrow middle portion. [2] The sound is partially protected from the sea by Tuluran Island (also known as Tumbod), a barrier island that is 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) long and 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) wide at its widest point, which divides its entrance into two channels: the 1.1-kilometre (0.68 mi) wide Blockade Strait to the west, and the narrow 0.2-kilometre (0.12 mi) Endeavor Strait to the east. [1]

The sound forms the coast of eighteen barangays of Taytay municipality, with Taytay Poblacion and Pancol being the largest situated on the Inner Sound. [5] It is indented by several bays and coves and with a surrounding landscape characterized by moderately rolling hills. The sound is fed by several rivers supplying fresh water inflow namely, the Abongan, Alacalian, Bato and Pinagupitan rivers. [5] 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of its entrance is Custodio Point which forms the western border of Bacuit Bay in the municipality of El Nido, itself a managed resource protected area. [1] The Copoas Peninsula, named after its highest peak, Mount Copoas at 1,013 metres (3,323 ft) above sea level, is shared with four barangays of the municipality of San Vicente on its southern side. [5]

The Malampaya marine protected area is located some 217 kilometres (135 mi) north of Palawan's provincial capital, Puerto Princesa. It is also the site of several Tagbanua settlements whose main means of livelihood are fishing and farming, particularly in the areas of Minapla, New Guinlo, Binga, Alimanguan, Pancol and Liminagcong. [5]

Ecology

Malampaya Sound's waters, coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove coastlines and surrounding lowland forests provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. More than 156 fish species are found in its waters including commercially valuable fish such as mackerel, anchovy, crevalle, sea catfish, snapper, frigate tuna, rabbit fish and grouper. Crabs and stingray are also abundant in the sound and is also visited by dugongs and marine turtles like green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles. The sound is also home to three species of dolphins: the Irrawaddy dolphin found in the Inner Sound, the bottle-nosed dolphin in the Outer Sound, and Risso's dolphin found at Minapla Bay. [5]

The surrounding forested landscape consists of primarily dipterocarp trees such as narra, ipil, apitong, dao, kamagong and mancono. It is inhabited by several animal species unique to Palawan, including the Palawan binturong, Palawan pangolin, Palawan stink badger, Palawan treeshrew and Palawan porcupine. A number of endemic bird species are also found in the protected area like the Palawan peacock-pheasant, Palawan hornbill, Tabon scrubfowl, talking myna and Philippine cockatoo. Its forest also hosts the Philippine long-tailed macaque, Asian palm civet and the critically endangered Philippine forest turtle. [2] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan</span> Province in Mimaropa, Philippines

Palawan, officially the Province of Palawan, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of 14,649.73 km2 (5,656.29 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Puerto Princesa wherein it is geographically grouped but administered independently from the province. Palawan is known as the Philippines' Last Frontier and as the Philippines' Best Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irrawaddy dolphin</span> Species of mammal

The Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in scattered subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. It closely resembles the Australian snubfin dolphin, which was not described as a separate species until 2005. It has a slate blue to a slate gray color. Although found in much of the riverine and marine zones of South and Southeast Asia, the only concentrated lagoon populations are found in Chilika Lake in Odisha, India and Songkhla Lake in southern Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Nido, Palawan</span> Municipality in Palawan, Philippines

El Nido, officially the Municipality of El Nido, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,494 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coron Island</span> Island in the Calamian Islands in Palawan in the Philippines

Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about 170 nautical miles (310 km) southwest of Manila and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage. Because of its unique ecological features, the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan (island)</span> Island in the Philippines

Palawan is the largest island of the province of Palawan in the Philippines and fifth-largest by area and tenth-most populous island of the country, with a total population of 994,101 as of 2020 census. The northwest coast of the island is along the Palawan Passage in the eastern South China Sea, while the southeast coast forms part of the northern limit of the Sulu Sea. Much of the island remains traditional and is considered by some as under-developed. Abundant wildlife, jungle mountains, and some white sandy beaches attract many tourists, as well as international companies looking for development opportunities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine forest turtle</span> Species of turtle

Siebenrockiella leytensis is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to the Philippines. It is classified as critically endangered. It is known as the Philippine forest turtle, the Philippine pond turtle, the Palawan turtle, or the Leyte pond turtle. Despite the latter common name, it does not occur in the island of Leyte but is instead native to the Palawan island group. It is locally known as bakoko in Cuyonon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culion</span> Municipality in Palawan, Philippines

Culion, officially the Municipality of Culion, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 23,213 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubbataha Reef</span> Protected area in the middle of the Sulu Sea

The Tubbataha Natural Park, also known as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, is a protected area of the Philippines located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. The marine and bird sanctuary consists of two huge atolls and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef covering a total area of 97,030 hectares. It is located 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. The uninhabited islands and reefs are part of the island municipality of Cagayancillo, located roughly 130 kilometers (81 mi) to the northeast of the reef.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anhatomirim Environmental Protection Area</span>

Anhatomirim Environmental Protection Area is a protected area to the north of Florianópolis on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flora and fauna of Odisha</span>

Odisha, a state in eastern India, is extremely diverse and gives the state abundance of natural beauty and wildlife. The districts in the interior are thickly covered by tropical moist deciduous and tropical dry deciduous forests. The hills, plateaus and isolated areas of the northeastern part of the state are covered by the tropical moist deciduous forests whereas the dry deciduous forests are located in the southwest region of the state. Some of the trees which grow in abundance in Odisha are bamboo, teak, rosewood, sal, piasal, sanghvan and haldi. There are 479 species of birds, 86 species of mammals, 19 species of amphibians and 110 species of reptiles present in Odisha. The state is also an important habitat for the endangered olive ridley turtles and Irrawaddy dolphins. Koraput district of southern Odisha has been identified by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of UN as Global Agricultural Heritage site which is among only other three sites in the world. Other sites are in Peru, China and Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape</span>

The Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape is an island that is a protected area and national park in the municipality of Santa Ana in Cagayan, Philippines. It is located off the northeastern extremity of Luzon Island.

The Malampaya gas field or the Malampaya-Camago field is a deepwater gas-condensate reservoir, located in the Service Contract 38 license area, located offshore, 65 kilometres (40 mi) northwest of the island of Palawan, Philippines.

Murcielagos Island locally known as Pulo Baliudyong is a small low-lying island in the Sulu Sea off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. It measures over 500 metres (1,600 ft) across at its widest point and is situated on an oval reef about 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) in length. situated in 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) north of Quipit Point on the west side of Patauag Bay in the Zamboanga municipality of Labason. It is known for its white coral-sand beaches and rich marine resources. To its west lies an islet called Bayangan Island. The two islands are collectively known as Murcielagos Islands and are administratively part of the Labason poblacion of Antonino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selinog</span>

Selinog, historically known as Silino and also named Silinog, is an island barangay in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. It is coterminous with Silino Island and is located 12.9 kilometres (8.0 mi) off Tagolo Point, the northern entrance point to Dapitan Bay, and some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the island of Aliguay in the Bohol Sea. The island is a flat coralline island with a land area of 78 hectares. It is surrounded by 70 hectares of coral reefs and sandy areas. According to the 2020 census, the island community has a population of 692 inhabitants.

Rasa Island is a flat coral island in the Sulu Sea just off the coast of the municipality of Narra in Palawan, Philippines. It is a shallow island surrounded by mangroves and tidal flats containing one of the country's last remaining coastal forests. The island is home to the largest population of the endemic and critically endangered Philippine cockatoo in the wild in the Philippines. It was declared a protected area in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alibijaban</span> Island in Quezon, Philippines

Alibijaban is a small island located off the southeastern coast of Bondoc Peninsula in the Philippines. It belongs administratively to the municipality of San Andres, Quezon province, and is coterminous with the barangay of the same name. With a population of 1,738 inhabitants in 2020, it is the smallest of seven barangays in San Andres.

Malabungot, alternatively spelled as Malabungut, and also known as Mahad, is an island in Binagasbasan Bay off the coast of Garchitorena in Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is separated from Caramoan Peninsula in the south by the Quinalasag Passage, also known as Sisiran Passage, which connects Lamit and Sisiran bays. The island forms the head of Binagasbasan Bay, bordered to the west by the Lamit Islands and to the east by Quinalasag Island, and which opens northward to the Philippine Sea. It is designated as a protected landscape and seascape on account of its biodiversity and ecological significance.

The Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape, in Davao de Oro, Philippines, is a terrestrial and marine protected area established in 2000 to protect ecologically significant habitats in Davao Gulf. The park extends along the coast of the municipality of Mabini from the mouth of the Pandasan River to the southern tip of Kopiat Island. It also includes Lunod Island, also known as Pandasan Island, which was earlier declared a wilderness area in 1981. It covers 6,106 hectares of extensive mangrove forests, white sand beaches and rich coral reef systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biri Larosa Protected Landscape and Seascape</span>

The Biri Larosa Protected Landscape and Seascape is a protected area located in Northern Samar, Philippines, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Catarman. It protects the Balicuatro Islands, composed of the island municipality of Biri and associated smaller islands, off the northwestern coast of Samar in the San Bernardino Strait. It also includes the coastal areas of the adjacent municipalities from which it derives the second half of its name – a combination of the first two letters of Lavezares, Rosario and San Jose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guiuan Protected Landscape and Seascape</span> Protected area in the Philippines

The Guiuan Protected Landscape and Seascape, also known as the Guiuan Marine Reserve, is a protected area associated with the Guiuan Island Group which is located off the coast of the municipality of Guiuan on the eastern side of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. The protected area consists of the following islands from within the group: Calicoan, Manicani, Suluan, Tubabao, Victory, Homonhon and other smaller islands and their surrounding reefs. It also includes the coastal area of mainland Guiuan in Eastern Samar covering a total area of 60,448 hectares. The land which now comprises the conservation area was previously declared as a Marine Reserve and Tourist Zone and was placed under the administration and control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in 1978. It was re-proclaimed and re-classified as a protected landscape/seascape in 1994 under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "United States coast pilot, Philippine Islands". U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape". Philippine Biodiversity Partnerships. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. "Proclamation No. 342, s. 2000". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. "Irrawaddy dolphin". World Wildlife Fund . Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape". Department of Environment and Natural Resources . Retrieved 3 November 2015.