Publisher :
Place of publication :
Publication year : 0
Thematic : TEEB
Language : English
Note
Located southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the
Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park (TRNMP) was
established as a national marine park on August 11,
1988 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1993. Its political jurisdiction lies with the municipality of
Cagayancillo, which in turn is located northeast of the atoll
reefs. The area consists of two atolls made up of roughly
10,000 has. of corals, reef fishes, algae and seagrasses
and aggregations of large megafauna like sharks and
cetaceans.
Despite its protection status, violations and damages to
coral reefs and marine life occur in TRNMP every now
and then. To the extent possible, Park rangers have been
vigilant in apprehending violators and imposing fines.
However, TMO was able to collect only PhP 605,000 from
ship grounding fines, since only two ships that damaged
approximately 30 sq. m. each and one that damaged 96
sq. m. were fined. Current fines are pegged at PhP 4,000
per square meter. Meanwhile, violations that have occurred
in other countries show fines paid are much higher. In
Apo Reef Natural Park, a ship grounding incident in 2003
occurred which resulted in fines imposed at PhP 13,000 per
sq. m. based on estimated restoration costs to rehabilitate
the area through enhanced biological restoration methods.
The need for economic valuation of such impacts was
identified to serve as an empirical basis for the computation
of fines and penalties that correspond to the level and
degree of impact for each violation. This report aims to
recommend appropriate fines specific for damages brought
about by ship grounding violations in TRNMP. Two methods
were employed to estimate the economic value of TRNMP�s
coral reefs. First, the production approach method values
the various goods and services provided by Tubbataha
Reefs, the latter being limited to activities that are allowed
in TRNMP. Second, the coral reef restoration cost approach
provides estimates of the costs involved in performing
coral transplantation and enhanced biological restoration
methods. The values to be determined in both approaches
should be treated as minimum values.
Summing up the different uses of TRNMP�s coral reefs
provides for an annual economic value of approximately
PhP 208 to 211 per sq. m. However, if ship grounding
does occur, and coral reefs are left alone to regenerate on
their own, it will take the ecosystem much more than one
year to recover. Using an average number of 45 years
for natural regeneration to occur, recommended fines for
ship grounding violations using the production approach
would thus be approximately PhP 9,500 per square meter.
Meanwhile, the restoration cost method reveals an amount
of PhP 15,000 for TRNMP coral reefs.
The TRNMP-PAMB may consider imposing a minimum fine
of PhP 9,500 per sq. m. or a maximum amount of PhP
15,000 per sq.m., or an average amount of PhP 12,000
per square meter. This study further recommends an
amendment to their current charge of PhP 4,000 per sq. m.
The study results show that there is enough basis for raising
the fines, based on the estimated economic value of TRNMP
coral reefs.
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Keywords : Exclusive economic zones
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
