“Davao Gulf is a social, economic, spiritual, cultural, and biological wealth, conserved and managed in the context of sustainable development by empowered communities in order to attain the greater benefit for the largest number of people.”           

The Davao Gulf is one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world according to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). Reef and mangrove species, cetaceans and a host of invertebrates contribute to the natural diversity of the Gulf.  Endangered species listed in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), such as the leatherback turtle and the dugongs (sea cows), have been sighted around the area. As the 10th major fishing ground in the country, the Gulf is a critical resource supporting the economies of five coastal cities and 18 coastal municipalities. The typhoon-free climate and relative peace in the region have favored expansion and development in the agro-industrial, fishery, tourism and other service sectors.  As a result, processing plants and industries, settlements and built-up areas, ports, beach resorts, and all facets of economic progress have spread across the coasts, affecting the bio-physical condition of the Gulf and leading to numerous management issues and concerns.  Based on a series of consultative workshops with local governments in the Gulf, these management issues and concerns are as follows:

A.  Common Issues and Concerns

• incidence of illegal and destructive fishing
• fragmented initiatives by national government agencies and local government units that deter integrated coastal management
• the need to strengthen inter-LGU mechanisms for coastal and fishery law enforcement
• low level of awareness on coastal protection
• lack of trained personnel to facilitate CRM activities
• lack of political will on the part of some local officials to implement coastal and marine policies and ordinances
• maritime security (i.e. sea piracy)
• bio-physical deterioration of mangrove, seagrass and coral habitats
• conversion of mangrove areas to other uses
• presence of domestic and agro-industrial wastes
• siltation

B.  Cross-cutting Issues and Concerns

• reckoning point for municipal waters  (in relation to the delineation of municipal boundaries)
• harmonization of policies
• inadequate resources for implementation of policies and programs
• need to strengthen coordination and collaboration between government and civil society groups
• conterparting for sustainable DGMC
• mining and quarrying

The continuity of the coastline has in fact made the Gulf a common source of boon or bane for its inhabitants and resource users.  It is as well recognized as a resource where equity in terms of access to marine resources and joint accountability necessitates the need for a management agenda that cut across ecosystems and geo-political boundaries.  In the pursuit of crafting a management agenda to reconcile the various issues and concerns facing the Gulf, the 18 coastal municipalities and five coastal cities, together with the national government agencies in the region (e.g. DENR, BFAR, PCG, DILG, DOST), non-government organizations, academic institutions, among others, converged to start the arduous task of ensuring the health of the Gulf while sustaining local economies. It is in this context, that the Davao Gulf Management Framework Plan was put together. 

This framework plan defines the inherent values, guiding principles and policies, common directions, strategic interventions, and organizational mechanisms to steer collective management actions towards the sound stewardship of the Gulf. It defines transboundary issues with which member LGUs could chart unified courses of actions and collaborate in implementing institutional arrangements. While the DGMC, whose mandate is to make policies for the sound management of the Gulf, initiated the crafting of this document, the final form was made possible by the remarkably inspiring participation of local government officials and staff, from both the executive and legislative chambers.  The academic institutions, national government agencies and non-government organizations proved willing partners in the technical preparation of the document.

Outstanding Biological Features:

• Davao Gulf is a feeding and breeding ground for small pelagic and seasonal migration site, breeding and nursery ground for large pelagic.
• Ten species of cetaceans, marine turtles, whale sharks and other elasmobranchs inhabit Davao Gulf. Seahorses are also found here.
• Davao Gulf hosts 17 species of mangroves which serve as spawning grounds for demersal fish and resting grounds for migratory birds. 44 species of seaweed have been recorded here.
• The area is also rich in invertebrate species such as gastropods, mollusks, bivalves, echinoderms and crustaceans. Coral diversity is rich, typical of the Coral Triangle.
• The nine species of seagrass in Kaputian, Samal Island and Kaplat Island, as well as Sta. Cruz, Talikud Island and Gov. Generoso Tibanban, Malita, Davao del Sur, are known feeding areas for dugongs.

Description of Threats:

• Davao Gulf’s burgeoning population is the primary source of threat to the health and productivity of the Gulf.
• Years of logging and land clearing have forced Davao Gulf’s 33 major rivers and creeks to deposits tons of soil into its coastal zone, leaving behind situations of environmental death.
• The agricultural and industrial activities of cities and municipalities surrounding Davao Gulf have infused heavy loads of phosphates, nitrates, fertilizers, pesticides, soil, domestic wastes, mine tailings and mercury and cement industry wastes into the waters of Davao Gulf, daily.
• The uneven implementation of comprehensive land use plans led to the unregulated construction of a large number of buildings, commercial establishments and other permanent concrete structures, introducing further threats. This is aggravated by shipping, solid waste disposal and other anthropogenic stresses associated with these businesses.
• Fisheries within the Gulf face direct threats from over exploitation, destructive fishing practices such as blast fishing and cyanide fishing and illegal entity of commercial fishing in municipal waters.

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