Irrawaddy dolphins seen again in San Miguel Bay after extensive marine survey

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday said critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins have been sighted again in San Miguel Bay in the Bicol Region.

In a news release, the BFAR said the dolphin sighting came after a comprehensive marine mammal survey conducted by the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UP IESM), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-BFAR Regional Office V from July 26 to August 1, 2026.

The agency said the objective of the scientific assessment was to evaluate the population status, distribution, and habitat use of the species.

The BFAR said the presence of the dolphins was first detected through acoustic monitoring on July 27 near Sipocot, Camarines Sur, proving their presence in the bay before the sightings.

Further, on July 29, the agency said that researchers made direct visual contact with a pod of approximately nine Irrawaddy dolphins between Siruma and Tinambac, Camarines Sur.

A second group consisting of about four dolphins was observed in the same area on July 31, confirming consistent activity in these coastal waters, according to the BFAR.

It added that although vessel-based transects conducted on July 28 and 30 yielded no direct sightings, they provided vital environmental and spatial data.

The BFAR added that habitat evaluations offer crucial insight into the species' movement patterns and ecological requirements, establishing a solid scientific foundation for future conservation planning and targeted protective measures.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is one of the most threatened marine mammals in the Philippines, with San Miguel Bay hosting one of only three known resident populations in the country, alongside Palawan’s Malampaya Sound and the Iloilo–Guimaras–Negros Occidental waters.

Unlike open-ocean dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit shallow coastal areas, estuaries, and river mouths, making them uniquely vulnerable to human activity, fishing gear entanglement, vessel traffic, pollution, and habitat degradation.

“With small numbers and low reproduction rates, the loss of even a single dolphin threatens the population's survival. We urge continuous monitoring, stronger environmental protections, and sustainable fishing practices,” said BFAR national director Elizer Salilig.

The BFAR said conservation and an increase in the population of this iconic marine mammal ultimately hinges on close cooperation between government partners, researchers, LGUs, and local fishing communities. –NB, GMA News