Review of the Biodiversity of Southern Philippine Seas

Abstract

The marine biodiversity of the four seas in southern Philippines, namely, the Moro Gulf, the Davao Gulf, the Sarangani Bay, and the Sulawesi Sea, was reviewed. The biodiversity in the shallow marine waters is similar to those in other parts of the country. The biodiversity is also in a similar conservation status, that is, in various degrees of depletion. But it is possible that there are marine species that are unique to these seas. This is especially true of the Sulawesi Sea, which is characterized by great variation in terms of habitat and depth. The importance of the resources in the four seas lies in the contributions of some species, such as tuna fishes, to the livelihoods of coastal populations in the area.