Projects

Our mission is carried out by executing projects in the three focus areas we believe are necessary to take a step towards
‘A Sustainable Future for Palawan’; Alternative Livelihood, Conservation of Natural Resources and Environmental Education. All projects will contribute to one or more Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Click here to find out how our projects contribute to these goals.

Livelihood

We believe that environmental issues, like overfishing and habitat destruction, can only be solved when communities are given an alternative employment opportunities. The South Sea Exclusive Foundation is committed to find practical ways that improve the livelihood of coastal communities and conserve the natural resources. The alternative livelihood projects are mainly focused on small scale sustainable aquaculture in coastal areas. The target group of these alternative livelihood projects is families living in coastal areas with a low and unstable income. 

Raising mud crabs

The Foundation will incorporate local families in the production of mud crabs by letting them raise juvenile crabs. The Company is planning to build a hatchery, so that no wild stock has to be used. The participants of the project will be given starting material and a training to raise their first mud crabs. With the profit, they can buy new juveniles. South Sea Exclusive is the market for selling the adult mud crabs.

Conservation

Healthy coastal ecosystems provide numerous benefits for the inhabitants of Palawan. They provide them with food, medicines, building materials and protection. The conservation of the coastal ecosystems is essential for the future well-being of Palawan. The Foundation executes projects that actively restore and protect the coastal and marine ecosystems.

Reforestation of mangroves

Mangrove forests play an essential role in coastal ecosystems. They function as important nursery grounds for many fish and shrimp species, as well for spiny lobsters. In addition, mangroves produce good quality wood, basic ingredients for medicines and different fruits and seafood products such as oysters and shells.

Clear-cutting of mangrove forests has a direct impact on coastal biodiversity and water quality thru erosion and silting, which results in the degradation of coral reefs. The Foundation assists in the reforestation of mangroves on Palawan.

Support release program of lobsters

In the past few decades, lobster populations have declined drastically and therefore each animal which is currently removed from its natural habitat results in a declining effect on the population of the species. South Sea Exclusive produces sustainable nursed and hatched spiny lobsters in several mariculture facilities in the Philippines.

To sustain the natural stock of spiny lobsters, South Sea Exclusive will return five percent of the produced adult spiny lobsters back into the wild. Previous research has shown that this will significantly contribute to the conservation of the marine ecosystem. The lobsters will be released in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) preventing the local fishermen from catching the lobsters again. Together with Local Government Units, South Sea Exclusive will establish, finance and control these areas.

This project will be carried out by the Company. The Foundation will have a supportive and informative role in this project, through the realization of an education program for the fishermen.

Education

Coastal communities depend on natural resources for their livelihood. Sustainable use of the coastal ecosystems is very important for the well-being of the future generations of Palawan. To stimulate sustainable alternatives, we believe that more awareness about the integral importance of these ecosystems is needed. Environmental education is a reliable means of arousing this awareness.

Environmental education can be accomplished in different ways. The Foundation employs the following methods:

Lectures

Lectures are given to significant organizations and educational institutes, like the Philippine Coast Guard and the Palawan State University. These lectures discuss the importance of coastal ecosystems, the threats against them, and solutions to use them in a sustainable way. Our lectures are proven to be very successful, as responses are very positive.

Projects for children

By conducting an environmental education program for pupils on elementary schools, we stimulate children’s curiosity to discover the importance and vitality of the coastal ecosystem and make them very proud of their surrounding environment. The program consists of theory lessons, games, creative assignments, documentaries and excursions, which explain the children about the different coastal ecosystems.