LAMAVE+RIP+logo+2017_square.jpg
 

We are Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE)

tubbataha-reefs-expedition-shark-lamave-philippines-photo-identification-noel-guevara (2 of 2).jpg

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.

cagayancillo-2019-sally-snow-8819.jpg

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.

Map LAMAVE 2019_provinces.jpg

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

cms-denr-research-lamave-philippines-1720389.jpg

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

whale-shark-lamave-research-philippines-steve-de-neeef.jpg

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

lamave-philippines-credit-sally-snow-lamave-4224.jpg

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.