Biennial awards ceremony showcases the Philippines’ commitment to marine conservation

Two years after the last prestigious Para El Mar MPA Awards & Recognition in the Philippines took place, Pacific Environment returns to partner with the Marine Protected Area Support Network to showcase the best practices in MPA management and marine conservation in the Philippines.

On Sept. 17-18, the 10th Para El Mar MPA Awards ("for the sea" in Spanish) was held in the "City of Love," Iloilo City in the Visayas, where hundreds of attendees - including the finalists, MPA practitioners, marine experts and MSN partners - celebrated the top winners in the field of marine protection. As organizational partners, Pacific Environment's Philippines team, including Dr. Mike Atrigenio and Janine Bobadilla, presented the Largest Effectively-Managed LMMPA Award.

What makes the Para El Mar MPA Awards special?

Launched in 2007 by the Marine Protected Area Support Network, the Para El Mar MPA Awards & Recognition is more than just an opportunity to call attention to and learn from the Philippines' best-managed marine protected areas, or MPAs. It is also a symbol of the Philippines' commitment on the global stage to conserve marine areas and resources in an age of climate change and environmental degradation.

The Para El Mar MPA Awards pairs well with the Philippines' 30×30 commitment by incentivizing MPA establishment, thereby contributing to the country's 30×30 commitment of preserving up to 16% of its coastal and marine waters.

Nearly two decades of the Para El Mar MPA Awards demonstrates an unwavering commitment by MPA stakeholders, particularly local communities, to improving conservation outcomes and protecting the Philippines' marine ecosystems as knowledge of the awards grows.

Winners and event outcomes

The Philippines has thousands of marine protected areas across the archipelagic nation, so there are always different teams and MPAs to celebrate. This year's winners included:

• Best Mangrove Award: Balisungan Marine Protected Area - Women-Managed Area, Coron, Palawan
• Outstanding Network Award: Southern Negros Coastal Development Management Council (SNCDMC)
• Outstanding NIPAS Award: Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape
• Outstanding Locally-Managed MPA Award: Ranzo Fish Sanctuary, Pinalamayan, Oriental Mindoro

Special citation:

• Largest Effectively-Managed LMMPA Award (sponsored by Pacific Environment): Concepcion-Sagrada-Bogtong MPA, Busuanga, Palawan
• Best in Enforcement Award for LMMPA (sponsored by Oceana): Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary, San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro
• Best in Enforcement Award for NIPAS MPA (sponsored by Oceana): Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape
• Saviors of the Sea Award (sponsored by Philippine National Police-Maritime Group): Ranzo Fish Sanctuary, Pinalamayan, Oriental Mindoro

The Largest Effectively-Managed LMMPA Award is given to the LMMPA finalist with the largest core zone or no-take zone where no extractive activities are allowed and strict protection is enforced. Concepcion-Sagrada-Bogtong MPA or CSB MPA in Busuanga, Palawan - the recipient of this award - was also awarded as the second runner-up for the Outstanding Locally-Managed MPA Award.

Along with spotlighting the 2025 award winners, this year's event included a learning forum on the best practices of these MPAs, as well as a series of presentations about citizen science, the blue economy and emerging tools and management approaches on MPA establishment and management.

Pacific Environment in the Philippines

Since 2021, Pacific Environment has supported the Para El Mar MPA Awards while partnering with the Philippines' national and local governments, plus other environmental organizations.

The awards truly encompass Pacific Environment's vision to provide a model that can be replicated, both advancing conservation outcomes and benefitting the people who most depend on the health of our oceans: coastal communities across the region and the world.

Our Philippines staff work closely with several MPAs, including those that provide protection for sea turtle nesting sites, shark aggregation areas and coral reef habitat. As part of our mission to ensure a cleaner and more just world for all, we are committed to supporting our partners in the Philippines to reach marine conservation goals now and into the future.

We'll see you for the next Para El Mar MPA Awards in 2027!