The Philippine Wetlands in the South China Sea

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Taal Lake

General Information
Wetland Type	Freshwater lake and associated marshes
Province	Batangas
Estimated Area (has)	23,424
Location	14°00'N, 121°19'E
*Altitude*	2.5 masl
Other Information	Taal Lake is the third largest lake in the country. Formerly known as Bombon Lake, it is one of the lowest volcanoes in the world and one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines.
Biological Diversity
Major Endemic	4 fish endemic to the lake which are: Sardinella tawilis, Mionurus bombonensis, Rhinogobius flavoventris, Petroscirtes ferox.
Species Diversity	Studies in the late 1930's showed there were 47 species of fish, although by now this has changed with the eradication of some species and the introduction of others. Many of these 47 species of fish were catadromous, migrating from the coastal areas to the lake via the Pansipit River when larvae: and migrating back to the sea when about to attain sexual maturity Invertibrates: A migratory crab of family Grapsidae (talangka) of commercial importance. Small freshwater shrimps of the family Atyidae (apta) of commercial importance. The molluscan fauna includes Melania blatta, M. laterita, M. pantherina, M. craba, Vivipara angularis and Corbicula manilensis. Plants: Hydrilla verticullata, Imperata cylindrica, Vallisneria sp. Fish: Sillago sihama, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Mugil macrolepis, Mugil melinopterus, Chanos chanos, Glossogobius giuris, Megalops cuprinoides, Ambassis commersionii, Ophicephalus striatus, Herengula tawilis, Therapon jarbua, Rhinogobius flavoventris, Omobranchus ferox, Leiopotherapon plumbeus, Anguilla mauritiana, Toxotes jaculatrix, Caranx ignobilis, Caranx sp., Mionorus bombonensis, Oreochromis niloticus niloticus, Ophieleotri aporos, Scatophagus argus, Kuhlia rupestris, Caranx sexfasciatus
Migratory Pathway	72 species of migratory fish
Socio-Economic
Transboundary Human Activiies	The lake is very important for fisheries especially for tawilis fishery and the fishery for migratory fish such as maliputo (Caranx ignobilis) due to their high market value. Also important for tourism
Tenure	state-owned
Threats
Intrinsic Source of Change	Volcanic activity is always a possibility and will affect the limnological characteristics of the lake. Soil erosion in the catchment area of the lake is potentially strong, with 32% of the land classified as highly susceptible to erosion. The introduction of exotic fish seems to have had a negative impact on the native fish.
External Source of Change	Over-fishing with fish corrals on the Pansipit River has prevented the migration of many of the commercially important fish such as maliputo (Caranx ignobilis).
Intervention
Conservation Status	The Taal National Park was established in 1967, but has been transformed into the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape and Seascape under NIPAS.
Development Project / Research	The Philippine Institute of Volcanology (PHIVOLCS) has a station at Talisay and also a monitoring station on the north shore of Volcano Island. A BFAR station is located near the Pansipit River. Researches were conducted in the 1930's by Villadolid on the commercial fishes. There has also been an investigation of the Tawilis fishery in 1976 and an extensive study on the bathymetry, temperature and oxygen regime in the lake, also in 1976.
Source of Information	Directory of Philippine Wetlands Vol I & II, PBCPP, Key Conservation Sites in the Philippines, Philippines National Report on Wetlands