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Explore TAÑON

Discover the breathtaking wonder of Tañon Strait and explore its pristine waters. Experience the marvelous dolphins as they dance through the striking rays of the sunset and dive into the kaleidoscopic world of corals beneath its aquamarine waters. A place of biodiversity worthy of conservation, protection and our attention.

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48% of the cetacean species in the Philippines have been recorded in Tañon Strait

Tañon Strait is a place of high biodiversity. Its diverse assemblage of cetaceans consists of 48 percent of the total cetacean species in the Philippines.

The rich mangrove forests and intertidal zones are favorable habitat to juvenile fishes and crustaceans attract migratory birds other than the local bird fauna.

Tañon Strait supports a variety of habitats, from mangrove forests of the coasts, to the coral reef covers of the depths. These habitats serve as the heart of Tañon as they give vibrance and life to all living things dependent on them.

A pod of spinner dolphins in Tañon Strait.
Green Sea turtle feeding on algae. Tañon Strait.

Meet the
CETACEANS OF TAÑON

Tañon Strait is an important feeding, breeding, resting, and migratory path for the cetaceans, one of the four classifications of marine mammals. Cetaceans are vital for the stability of the marine ecosystem. Often branded as the "sentinels" of the ocean, the cetaceans are important indicators for ocean health since most of the species have long-life span and are long-term residents of the oceans, and their behavior reflects the status of the marine waters.

Image: NOAA Fisheries
An illustration of a Bryde's whale. The first live documentation of this great whale in Tañon Strait was recorded on the summer of 2021.
Balaenoptera brydei is the larger subspecies of Bryde's Whale - the only baleen whale that lives in the tropical and subtropical marine waters. They are characterized by a single ridge in their rostrum and three notable ridges in front of their blowholes. They are sexually mature at around nine years of age and they can mate year-round.

The first live documentation of the Bryde's whale in Tañon Strait was recorded on May of 2021 off the coast of Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental during the dry season cetacean monitoring of DENR-TSPS.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Risso's dolphin.
Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus) is another cetacean species that likes the waters of Tañon. Sometimes called as gray dolphins, they are considered to be part of a subfamily "blackfish '' which includes other cetaceans like false killer whales, pygmy killer whales, and melon-headed whales. They are commonly found in groups of 10 to 30 animals however, they can also be found in solitary or in pairs. They are very active in the surface waters, often leaping and showing its majestic features under the ray of the golden sun.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Pygmy Killer whale.
Often confused as false killer whales and melon-headed whales, Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuata) is another cetacean species found in deeper areas of the warm waters of Tañon. They are often found in groups of 12 to 50 individuals and feed primarily on squid and fishes.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Dwarf Sperm whale.
Having a particular penchant for the tropical waters of Tañon, Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima) is an addition to the list of cetaceans found in Tañon. They are careful swimmers and usually come in a group of 10 or fewer and prefer to move steadily. When they are startled, they release a reddish-brown intestinal fluid as a nervous response similar to squids.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Melon-headed whale.
Melon-headed Whale (Pepanocephala electra) likes the sultry waters of Tañon Strait.  They are highly social and typically form a tight-knit bond of hundreds of whales typically staying together all throughout their existence. They feed mostly on small-fishes, squids, and shrimps.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Common Bottlenose dolphin.
Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) are another cetacean species that is noticed to appear in Tañon. Their skin is generally gray in color and may be found solitary or in groups. Their diet includes small fishes and squids and they can either hunt in solo or hunt in a group.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Pantropical Spotted dolphin.
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) are relatively small dolphins usually distinguished by their white tipped-beak and their dark coloration on their backs which stretches from their head to midway between the dorsal fin and tail flukes. They usually come in groups of several hundreds and are also often found in mixed groups of dolphin species. They feed on small fishes and squids.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Short-finned Pillot whale.
Also known as “cheetahs of the deep sea”, for their high-speed dives to capture large squids, Short-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are another cetacean species found in the tropical waters of Tañon. The bulbous melon head with no obvious rostrum and a dorsal fin far forward in its body, with a body that is either black or brown and a large gray saddle behind their dorsal fin gives their distinctive appearance. They often occur in groups of 25 to 50 and feed mainly on squids, octopus, and fish.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Spinner dolphin.
Often doing marvelous acts in the surface waters, these long-snouted Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris longirostris) are one of the frequently found cetaceans in the nutrient-rich waters of Tañon. Their energetic jumps and their remarkable spinning in mid-air leaves any spectator in awe. Often found in groups, they feed on small fish, shrimps, and squids.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Dwarf Spinner dolphin.
A subspecies of long-snouted spinner dolphins can be also found in the pristine waters of Tañon Strait. The dark dorsal cape that hides their three-color pattern helps Dwarf Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris roseiventris) to stand out from other spinner dolphins.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a Fraser's dolphin.
Enticed by the temperate waters of Tañon, the Fraser's Dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) is another marine mammal species that inhabits Tañon. They are agile swimmers and are typically found in a group of 10 to 100 individuals but can sometimes be also found within the groups of other cetacean species. They are deep divers and often feed on deep-sea fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
Image: NOAA Fisheries
Illustration of a False Killer whale.
False killer whales (Pseudorca crasseidens) are large members of the dolphin family. They are dark gray in coloration but often appear black. Its male are slightly larger than its females. They are found in tropical and subtropical aquatic waters where they feed either at day time or at night time.
Image: Frederique Lucas
Illustration of an Indo-pasific Bottlenose dolphin.
Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) are also seen in the waters of Tañon along with its close relative, the common bottlenose dolphin. The distinctive difference between the two is that the T. aduncus have ventral spotting that increases with age. They also have a relatively smaller body, smaller head, and larger flippers than the T. truncatus. They feed on small fishes and shrimps and are also capable of deep-dive hunting.
Diverse coral reefs in Tañon Strait.
Coral Reefs

Tañon Strait possesses an estimated 8,408 hectares of coral reefs with 66.35 percent already assessed and validated. Of the 41 common coral genera, Acropora, Porites, and Pocillopra are the dominant genera found in the strait.

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Seagrass meadows of Tañon Strait.
Seagrasses

Based on the current Biophysical Assessment report, Tañon Strait has a total of 12 distinct species of seagrasses with Thallasia sp., Enhalus sp., and Cymodocea sp. being the three most dominant species. This consist 75 percent of the 16 seagrass species reported in the Philippines.

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Lush mangrove forests of Tañon Strait.
Mangroves

Twenty-two (22) of the 46 known mangrove species in the Philippines are known to occur in Tañon Strait. It has an estimated 4,108 hectares of mangrove forests along the shoreline of Cebu and Negros.

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Notable Faunas

Tañon Strait belongs to an ecoregion with the highest biological diversity in the world (Carpenter & Springer, 2005). It is a distinct habitat of the chambered Nautilus (Hayasaka et al., 1983) and is an important migration corridor for whale sharks and other marine mammals. It is also known to a diversity of fish mollusks and crustaceans.

A whale shark in Tañon Strait.
Water bird searching for food in Tañon Strait.

Avifauna

Bird fauna in Tañon Strait are composed mainly of the white throated kingfisher, zebra dove, brahminy kites and swiftlets. Aside from these local avifauna, 21 species of migratory water birds were recorded in TSPS.

Reef Fishes

Tañon Strait provides the food security needs of the region in terms of fisheries. Based of different CRM plans of the LGUs, reef fish abundance ranges from 4,000 to 10,000 individuals per hectare belonging to 24 fish families.

Reef fishes.

"an area of national significance which is characterized by the harmonious interaction between man and sea"

The beautiful and bountiful Tañon covers an area of 534,589 hectares and is surrounded by 42 municipalities/cities with 306 coastal barangays. The surrounding communities depend on Tañon Strait's abundant supply of food. The primary source of income for these stakeholders is fishing; however, the strait also provides opportunities for public enjoyment and employment through tourism and other economic activities.

Hermit's Cove in Aloguinsan, Cebu. One of the many tourist destinations in Tañon Strait.
Beach resorts are common in Tañon Strait.
Research &
‍TOURISM

Due to its accessibility, ecotourism flourished and greatly contributes to the income generation for the residents in the area. The surrounding coastal areas and rich marine biodiversity in the Strait has made it a popular destination for tourists and an area of research.

Fishing in Tañon Strait.
Fishing in Tañon Strait.
Food &
LIVELIHOOD

An estimated 2.4 million resourceusers depended on Tañon Strait’s ecosystem services. Cebu, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental depend on the abundant resources of Tañon Strait as a source of food and livelihood. It is one of the region's major fishing grounds.

Toledo port, Tañon Strait
Gateway &
‍INDUSTRY

Aside from subsistence fishing, the coastal cities and municipalities are likewise home to major industries and ports within TSPS. It hosts industries such as shipbuilding, power generation and manufacturing. It also serves as a vital link between Western and Central Visayas.