A foreign-registered vessel ran aground in the waters off a known diving spot in Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu and damaged some corals.
At least 480 by 60 meters of coral reefs were affected when MV Belle Rose, a Panamanian-registered vessel, ran aground in the waters off Monad Shoal, an underwater island that serves as cleaning stations of thresher sharks.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station is conducting an investigation on why MV Belle Rose ran aground when there was no weather disturbance.
Commander Agapito Bibat, PCG Cebu Station chief, said the vessel, which was registered under Alpha Ship Management Corp., came from Tsukimi, Japan and was heading to San Fernando town in southern Cebu.
The vessel was loaded with bags of cement and had an all-Filipino crew on board — eight officers and 12 crew members.
“We are asking the ship captain to submit their marine protest within 24 hours,” Bibat said in a phone interview.
The ship captain was identified as Captain Vicharniel delos Reyes.
The PCG sent divers to check if there was leak in the hull. None was found and surface water had no traces of oil.
Garry Casas, a marine biologist who belongs to Project Sharklink, said they also conducted a dive in Monad Shoal to check on the damage done by the vessel on the reefs.
Initial assessment showed that the damage on the reef measured 480 meters by 60 meters.
But Casas said a thorough assessment had to be conducted to determine the kind of coral reef species affected.
Project Sharklink, which is based on Malapascua Island where the Monad Shoal belongs, is composed of divers, conservationists and educators who are working to promote sustainable dive tourism that should benefit both the community and the marine animals.
Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace, said the vessel should not be allowed to leave the country to ensure that its owner rehabilitates the damage done on the reefs.
“We want to make sure of the accountability. The company should also rehabilitate the damage. It takes time to rehabilitate these coral reefs,” Cinches said.
Bibat said the foreign vessel will be transferred to another port because it might hamper sea travel of other vessels.
Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro signed an executive order on June 2, 2015 creating the shark and ray sanctuary on Monad Shoal and Gato Island off Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan.
The EO was the first in the country and intended to strengthen the protection of the species that were crucial to the town’s tourism.
Corro said a thorough investigation should be conducted before any legal actions would be taken against the shipping company.