Strengthen Coral-Rich Marine Protected Areas - Oceana Philippines

Strengthen Coral-Rich Marine Protected Areas

Ensure Effective Management of Protected Areas in Support of the Philippine’s 30×30

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Overview

Coral reef health and fisheries management are intimately linked. Healthy reefs support fisheries and poor reef fishery management invariably leads to coral degradation. When properly managed, a square kilometer of tropical reef yields 15 tons of seafood a year – a resource critical to the planet’s estimated 6 million reef fishers and their families. Nearly one million of those fishers reside in the Philippines alone.

The condition of Philippine coral reefs has been in constant and rapid decline. A recent study shows that 90% of our reefs are in poor to fair categories and none in excellent state. The dismal condition of our reefs is further exacerbated by destruction of marine habitats including dump-and-fill projects, destructive fishing practices, pollution, climate change and other anthropogenic pressures.

Strengthening the management and expanding the country’s marine protected areas and strong enforcement of our laws are necessary to effectively protect our coral reefs and provide refuge for coral reef dwellers. These will provide the best chance for their long-term survival and in return, the people benefit from the ecosystem services they provide.

We can carry forward the momentum we generated through our 2018 victory in having a portion of the iconic Philippine Rise protected through a presidential proclamation. Oceana commits to strengthen coral-rich marine protected areas such as in Panaon Island.

About 30×30

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has approved the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The framework includes 23 targets aimed at reversing habitat and species loss. One of the targets, known as “30×30”, specifically calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.

The Philippine Government pledged its support for the 30×30 global target. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Biodiversity Management Bureau, has committed to protecting 35.03 million hectares, which is 15.91% of Philippine seas, as part of the 30×30 target. This commitment includes existing and proposed national protected areas, marine protected area networks, marine key biodiversity areas, and ecologically and biologically significant areas.

Panaon Island has been identified as an important area that will significantly contribute to achieving the country’s 30×30 commitments.

About Panaon

Photo © Krystle Caye Pardo

Panaon Island, located in the Province of Southern Leyte, Philippines, is a beautiful and biodiverse island, home to various marine life, including many reef-associated fish communities, Philippine ducks, and even the endangered whale shark. With over 50% hard coral cover and a high score of 96% in a protected area suitability assessment, Panaon Island has been identified by the Bloomberg Ocean’s Initiative as one of the 50 priority reefs in the world that will highly likely withstand the devastating impacts of climate change.

Ensuring the effective management and long-term sustainability of Panaon Island is critical. To this end, Oceana is supporting the government in establishing its protected area management board, developing the management plan and ensuring its implementation.

Photo © Danny Ocampo

Oceana is pushing for the designation of Panaon Island as a protected seascape. The bill has been approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate and is awaiting signature of the President.

To raise awareness and support for the bill, Oceana in partnership with the Office of Senator Cynthia Villar launched a photo exhibit in Senate last September 2023 that highlighted the beauty and importance of protecting Panaon Island’s marine environment.

Photo © Oceana

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