The critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) has been sighted again in San Miguel Bay, according to a comprehensive marine mammal survey conducted from July 26 to August 1, 2026. The assessment was carried out by the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (UP IESM) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office V (DA-BFAR 5).

The scientific survey aimed to evaluate the species' population status, distribution, and habitat use within the bay.

Researchers first confirmed the dolphins' presence using acoustic monitoring on July 27 near Sipocot, Camarines Sur, providing evidence of their activity before any visual sightings were recorded. On July 29, the team made direct visual contact with a pod of approximately nine Irrawaddy dolphins between Siruma and Tinambac, Camarines Sur. A second group of roughly four individuals was sighted in the same area on July 31, reinforcing evidence of consistent dolphin activity across these coastal waters.

Vessel-based transects conducted on July 28 and 30 did not produce direct sightings, but they contributed important environmental and spatial data. These habitat assessments provide critical understanding of the species' movement patterns and ecological requirements, forming a scientific foundation for future conservation planning and targeted protective interventions.

The Irrawaddy dolphin ranks among the most threatened marine mammals in the Philippines and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List globally. San Miguel Bay is home to one of only three known resident populations in the country, alongside those in Palawan's Malampaya Sound and the waters connecting Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental. The species is protected under Philippine law through Republic Act 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which prohibits the killing, collecting, or trading of threatened species.

Unlike open-ocean dolphin species, Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit shallow coastal zones, estuaries, and river mouths. This habitat preference renders them especially susceptible to human-related threats, including fishing gear entanglement, vessel traffic, pollution, and habitat degradation. Bycatch in gillnets is widely recognized as the leading cause of mortality for the species across its range in South and Southeast Asia. San Miguel Bay is also one of the most important municipal and commercial fishing grounds in the Bicol Region, meaning the dolphins' core habitat overlaps directly with intensive fishing activity.

"With small numbers and low reproduction rates, the loss of even a single dolphin threatens the population's survival. We urge continuous monitoring, stronger environmental protections, and sustainable fishing practices," said BFAR national director Elizer Salilig.

Researchers and officials emphasized that the long-term conservation and recovery of this iconic marine mammal depend on sustained collaboration among government agencies, scientific institutions, local government units (LGUs), and coastal fishing communities.