Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park is a

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

resort and habitat for various

marine mammal Marine mammals are aquatic mammals that rely on the ocean and other marine ecosystems for their existence. They include animals such as seals, whales, manatees, sea otters and polar bears. They are an informal group, unified only by their reli ...

s in

Misamis Occidental Misamis Occidental ( ceb, Kasadpang Misamis; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Sindepan Mis'samis''; fil, Kanlurang Misamis), officially the Province of Misamis Occidental, is a Provinces of the Philippines, province located in the Regions of the Ph ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. It is located within the boundaries of the Tudela and Sinacaban municipalities. It houses a

wildlife park A safari park, sometimes known as a wildlife park, is a zoo-like commercial drive-in tourist attraction where visitors can drive their own vehicles or ride in vehicles provided by the facility to observe freely roaming animals. A safari park ...

with a variety of animals, most of whom are native to the

. The park also contains hotel accommodations and a restaurant. Currently, Dolphin Island is undergoing rehabilitation and is temporarily closed to visitors until further notice.

History and development

The coastal region of

extends over 162 kilometers and features an ecosystem rich with

shoals In oceanography, geomorphology, and geoscience, a shoal is a natural submerged ridge, bank, or bar that consists of, or is covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material and rises from the bed of a body of water to near the surface. It o ...

and

reefs A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral or similar relatively stable material, lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic processes— deposition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock out ...

, essential for the local population's livelihood. This area not only offers scenic beauty but also plays a crucial role in the sustenance of many local communities through its abundant marine resources. In response to economic challenges, the Misamis Occidental provincial government launched the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program (MOADPP) in 2002. The initiative aimed to convert Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park into an

ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

site, enhancing revenue generation while prioritizing environmental preservation. The program allocated approximately 200 hectares for the development of facilities such as hotels, cottages, a mini zoo, function halls, restaurants, incubators, and a

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evoluti ...

reforestation area. MOAPY Island was established as a haven for rescued dolphins and fish, while also serving as an area for

aquaculture Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. lot ...

production. The Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) significantly contributed by supporting livelihood projects aimed at providing alternative sources of income for local families, thus aiding in the mitigation of unemployment rates. The tourism boom linked to the Aquamarine Park further augmented job opportunities for the community.

References

External links

Homepage of MOAP

Philippinenportal
Pictures * http://www.the-philippines.de/mindanao-moap-aquamarine-park/
More Pictures and Information (German)
Resorts in the Philippines Geography of Misamis Occidental Tourist attractions in Misamis Occidental Misamis Occidental Marine parks of the Philippines {{zoo-stub