Grand Pawikan Fest

SEA TURTLE ADOPTION KIT

The PAWIKAN CONSERVATION PROJECT fights to protect endangered sea turtle populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles and the oceans and the needs of the local communities who share the beaches and waters with these gentle and beautiful creatures.

There are a wide variety of threats to the continued existence of the Pawikan or Marine Turtles, which is now teetering on the verge of extinction. You can help make the difference between extinction and recovery for the Pawikans!

Please join us in making the oceans safe for these creatures and other marine species as well.

ABOUT THE PAWIKANS…

Marine turtles have seven (7) different species in the world and five (5) of which are known to be here in the Philippine waters. These animals are highly migratory in nature. They are internationally traded illegally like in our country due to its economic value. They are exploited in various forms starting from the eggs to the mature marine turtles. Their continued exploitation coupled with their very low survival rate (1%) pushed them into the brink of extinction. And internationally, (Convention Internationally Traded Endangered Species) they are all listed as endangered species while in our country, marine turtles are protected under republic Act 9147 or known as Wildlife Conservation ACT (March 19, 2001).

Bagac and Morong, Bataan sandy beaches are long nesting beaches of the three (3) among the five (5) marine turtles found in the country. It is predominated by Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill Turtle (Erewtmochelys imbricata).

In previous years, rampant selling of marine turtle eggs in the locality has been observed due to belief that it has an aphrodisiac effect. Poachers are encouraged to engage due to its price that ranges from PhP 8.00 to PhP 10.00 per piece. This also serves as additional livelihood for the marginal fisherman during the nesting season of marine turtles that usually starts during the month of October to February.

HOW IT STARTED?

A private corporation, MONTEMAR BEACH CLUB, INC. (MBCI) has been operating for a period of three decades now and is located at Bo. Pasinay, Barangay Pag-asa, Bagac, Bataan, headed by Ms. Victoria Gonzales, President and General Manager.

Sometime in February 2003, MBCI Director Francisco Garcia and other employees noticed marine turtle hatchlings crawling on the beach area of the resort. MBCI immediately reported it to the DENR-PAWB. In response to this, Biologist of the Pawikan Conservation Project (PCP) conducted initial Nesting Beach Assessment and has proven that the site is indeed a nesting site for the marine turtles.

In July 16, 2004 and July 30, 2004, two consecutive meetings were conducted by PAWB-PCP held at MBCI attended by major stakeholders such as DENR-CENRO Bagac, LGU-Bagac represented by Hon. Mayor Armando Ramos, the MPDO, the President and the Director of MBCI, Victoria Gonzales and Fracisco Garcia respectively. And one of the agenda was the formulation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

From then on, formal discussions started and initiated by MBCI to the concerned agencies such as the LGU and the DENR their intentions in the conservation and protection of marine turtle in Bagac, Bataan.

MBCI, LGU Municipal and DENR, CENRO-Bagac made a move in conducting a collaborative Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign all over the coastal Barangays of Bagac regarding the importance of marine turtles that are found in their territorial jurisdiction, especially seeking the participation of locals in the proposed marine turtle conservation project as initiated by MBCI.

It was then that CENRO-Bagac coordinated with PCP for possible capacity training on Marine Turtle Conservation to include marine turtle hatchery management. And in August 13, 2004, the first training on Marine Turtle conservation was held at MBCI conference hall to focus on hatchery management.

MBCI's one-year initial project implementation discovered that they had difficulties in dealing with the locals with regards to marine turtle egg collections and turtle retrievals; hence, another training through the help of Pawikan Conservation Project and the DENR, R-3 (a refresher to include policies) was conducted in August 31, 2005.

The drafted Memorandum of Agreement was carefully scrutinized and reviewed both by the parties involved and went for more than a year before it was finally agreed for signing.

MBCI involved several Barangays in the project implementation such as retrieval of eggs and mature marine turtle caught in fishing gears. Initial implementation in 2004-2005 resulted to a total of 1,680 eggs collected (from various egg collectors) and transplanted into the hatchery and 83% of which were emerged and released to the wild. While two (2) mature marine turtles were recovered tagged and released.

In 2005-2006 nesting season, egg collection of MBCI had already accumulated and transplanted 5,297 eggs (comprised of 157 clutches) and tagged and released 34 marine turtles. This has shown the awareness and participation of locals of the coastal Barangays. Moreover, the importance and the benefits of conversing and protecting marine turtles in their locality had already been instilled.

Last year 2006, Ms. Victoria Gonzales has again further initiated MBCI managers, officers and employees to create and design a special project that will feature the Pawikans and translate its importance, not only to the locals of Bagac, Bataan, but to EVERYONE that could be reached through different modes of promotions. They called it MONTEMAR'S Eco-tourism Initiative.

In part of this, MBCI's Sales & Marketing Manager, Ms. Maricar I. Salaveria and her team, came about this GRAND PAWIKAN FEST which started last November 04, 2006 and has now become one of MBCI's ANNUAL event. It was highlighted by the distribution of Adoption Kits, release of Turtle Hatchlings, awarding of Certificates, and with a Grand Finale: a beach concert by MBCI's very own band, the Third Wave Band.

Last December 1, 2007, MBCI also showcased this festivity together with various sponsors and featured a much grander Beach Concert by the "GEORGE BAND" headed by Mr. Edoard Lamberte. An environmental concern addressed in a very social and joyful manner.

By Dec. 31, 2007, Montemar has collected 2,455 Pawikan eggs from different areas of the coast of Bagac such as Cabayo, Quinawan and Saysayin. And 72% of this were successfully hatched and released back to South China Sea. From January to May 2008, Montemar also collected 6,711 Pawikan eggs and 4,795 were successfully hatched and returned to the Sea, which belongs to the 2007 nestling season.

This October to February 2008, we hope that more and more volunteers would be active in supporting this project by collecting the eggs and surrendering them to this project.

Once again, we will host the Grand Pawikan Fest this November 29, 2008. We will not only hope to spend this remarkable day with our Pawikan sponsors and guests but with all those who would like to witness and learn from this eco-tourism initiative.

Much can be learned about the condition of the planet's environment by looking at sea turtles. They have existed for over 100 million years, and they travel throughout the world's oceans. Suddenly, however, they are struggling to survive -- largely because of things people are doing to the planet's oceans and beaches. But what does this mean for the human species?

It is possible that a world in which sea turtles can not survive may soon become a world in which humans struggle to survive. If, however, we learn from our mistakes and begin changing our behavior, there is still time to save sea turtles from extinction. In the process, we will be saving one of the earth's most mysterious and time-honored creatures. We might just be saving ourselves too.

1. Sea turtles, especially green sea turtles, are one of the very few animals to eat sea grass. Like normal lawn grass, sea grass needs to be constantly cut short to be healthy and help it grow across the sea floor rather than just getting longer grass blades. Sea turtles and manatees act as grazing animals that cut the grass short and help maintain the health of the sea grass beds. Over the past decades, there has been a decline in sea grass beds. This decline may be linked to the lower numbers of sea turtles.

   Sea grass beds are important because they provide breeding and developmental grounds for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Without sea grass beds, many marine species humans harvest would be lost, as would the lower levels of the food chain. The reactions could result in many more marine species being lost and eventually impacting humans. So if sea turtles go extinct, there would be a serious decline in sea grass beds and a decline in all the other species dependant upon the grass beds for survival. All parts of an ecosystem are important, if you lose one, the rest will eventually follow.

2. Beaches and dune systems do not get very many nutrients during the year, so very little vegetation grows on the dunes and no vegetation grows on the beach itself. This is because sand does not hold nutrients very well. Sea turtles use beaches and the lower dunes to nest and lay their eggs. Sea turtles lay around 100 eggs in a nest and lay between 3 and 7 nests during the summer nesting season. For instance, along a 20 mile stretch of beach on the east coast of Florida sea turtles lay over 150,000 lbs of eggs in the sand. Not every nest will hatch, not every egg in a nest will hatch, and not all of the hatchlings in a nest will make it out of the nest. All the unhatched nests, eggs and trapped hatchlings are very good sources of nutrients for the dune vegetation, even the left over egg shells from hatched eggs provide some nutrients.

   Dune vegetation is able to grow and become stronger with the presence of nutrients from turtle eggs. As the dune vegetation grows stronger and healthier, the health of the entire beach/dune ecosystem becomes better. Stronger vegetation and root systems helps to hold the sand in the dunes and helps protect the beach from erosion. As the number of turtle declines, fewer eggs are laid in the beaches, providing less nutrients. If sea turtles went extinct, dune vegetation would lose a major source of nutrients and would not be as healthy and would not be strong enough to maintain the dunes, resulting in increased erosion. Once again, all parts of an ecosystem are important, if you lose one, the rest will eventually follow.

   Sea turtles are part of two ecosystems, the beach/dune system and the marine system. If sea turtles went extinct, both the marine and beach/dune ecosystems would be negatively affected. And since humans utilize the marine ecosystem as a natural resource for food and since humans utilize the beach/dune system for a wide variety of activities, a negative impact to these ecosystems would negatively affect humans.

It is through the support and efforts of individuals like you that we will keep the turtles here for generations to come. Whether you have 5 minutes to spare or 5 hours, there is always something you can do to help our campaigns to save the sea turtles. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Have the proper knowledge.

   With the proper knowledge you have, you will understand the importance of conserving our marine ecosystems. With these simple actions you can do to help protect Pawikans or sea turtles.

2. Circulate the information.

   Get your family, friends and coworkers involved, using it as an opportunity to educate them about the threat to our oceans. Better yet, make them a part of Montemar's Pawikan Conservation Project.

3. Become a member and adopt a turtle.

   There are many things each of us can do to help sea turtles survive. First, we must remember that we share the oceans and the beaches with many other species. Second, become informed about the things that are killing sea turtles or destroying their habitat. Elected officials and other leaders are making decision on issues that affect sea turtles almost every day. As an informed citizen, you have the power to influence the outcome of these issues by making your voice heard. One way to keep informed about important issues is to Support our efforts by acquiring our Pawikan Adoption Kit.

"For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." -B. Dioum