Sea Change

Former real estate developer Frédéric Tardieu stumbled upon a dying reef in Palawan, and sparked a bold conservation effort and a partnership with Blancpain that's now uplifting coastal communities.

- Alvin Wong

FRÉDÉRIC TARDIEU DIDN'T COME to the Philippines to save the ocean. He came for the sun and to escape another life as a hugely successful but stressed real estate developer. However, the slice of paradise that he found came with its own scars. Tardieu discovered bleached reefs, dynamite fishing, and a fragile ecosystem left to fend for itself. What began as a retreat with his wife on a remote island in Palawan unwittingly transformed into something far greater: the birth of Sulubaaï Marine Research Center.

Established in 2012, the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation has been at the forefront of marine conservation in the Philippines. One of its notable initiatives is the creation of the Pangatalan Island Marine Protected Area in 2016, covering 46 hectares. In 2017, the foundation introduced the Sulu-Reef Prosthesis (SRP), an innovative artificial reef structure that is designed to restore damaged coral reefs. These efforts have led to the installation of over 300 SRP units, significantly enhancing marine biodiversity in the region.