A coastal and marine protected area on northern Palawan, blending mangrove-fringed bays, brackish waters, and productive fisheries
Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape/Seascape
Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape/Seascape is a combined terrestrial and marine protected area on the north coast of Palawan, in the western Philippines. Established on 12 July 2000 through Presidential Proclamation 342, the protected area covers roughly 2,015 square kilometers and includes a substantial marine component that stretches across a long, sheltered bay on the western edge of Palawan island.
The core of the protected area is the Malampaya Sound itself, divided into an inner bay zone and an outer zone separated by a chain of thirteen smaller islands. The shoreline is shaped by extensive mangrove forests and broad intertidal flats, while numerous small streams and rivers flow into the shallow inner bay, creating nutrient-rich, brackish waters. These conditions support aquaculture operations for fish, crabs, and shrimp that are intended to promote sustainable fisheries in the region.
Beyond its ecological role, the protected area also safeguards the livelihoods of coastal communities: twenty-two barangays fall within its boundaries, and the population depends largely on fishing and agriculture. The park's establishment reflects an integrated approach, balancing marine and terrestrial conservation with traditional coastal resource use, while also opening space for restrained tourism development.
