The Philippine Navy will station personnel at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park to monitor vessel movements in the Sulu Sea and support coast guard, fisheries, and ranger operations protecting the UNESCO World Heritage site from illegal fishing and environmental violations.
The detachment, formalized through a memorandum of understanding with the Tubbataha Management Office, will co-locate with existing ranger stations and focus on environmental protection while enhancing maritime situational awareness.
Tubbataha, spanning over 97,000 hectares and home to more than 1,200 marine species, faces ongoing threats from illegal fishing, environmental degradation, and visiting divers.
Chinese Navy vessels have transited the area under the right of innocent passage, and China’s rocket launches in 2025 projected debris near the park, prompting diplomatic concern.
The Navy said the new presence will strengthen inter-agency coordination and safeguard both the marine environment and the archipelagic sea lanes in the Sulu Sea.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 6, 2026
NAVY TO ESTABLISH MONITORING STATION AT TUBBATAHA
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