The Philippine archipelago is covered by the Coral Triangle, a vast expanse of sea spanning six countries in Southeast Asia, portions of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean and home to 76 percent of the world’s coral species.
However, little importance is given to the conservation of coral reefs in the Cebu province’s waters, stated Provincial Board (PB) Member Thadeo Ouano who is urging towns and cities to join the celebration of the Coral Triangle Day on June 9. “The preservation of corals do not get much attention when in fact it acts as home to our fish and other marine creatures,” said Ouano.
Local government units (LGU) have been requested to hold mangrove planting activities and coastal cleanups in celebration of Coral Triangle Day.
This year will be Cebu’s first time to participate in the event along with five other countries in Southeast Asia that form the Coral Triangle — Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.
A resolution was unanimously approved by the PB in its session last Monday.
Ouano said the request for the province to join the celebration came from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Coral Triangle Initiative, a multilateral agreement among the six countries. With the agreement, the province will now be closely monitored by the group and send reports on the status of coral reefs in Cebu.
The Coral Triangle region is considered the epicenter of marine life in the world. It is home to the highest coral diversity in the world with 600 corals or 76 percent of the world’s known coral species.
It also contains the highest reef fish diversity on the planet with 2,500 or 37 percent of the world’s reef fish species concentrated in the area. It has a spawning and nursery ground for six species of threatened marine turtles, endangered fish and cetaceans such as tuna and blue whales.
The destruction of coral reefs due to dynamite fishing continues to be the primary concern of diving enthusiasts, resort owners and locals in northern Cebu towns particulary in Malapascua Island, said Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
In a public hearing last month, residents in Malapascua lamented on the continued presence of dynamite fishers. “This is the number one complaint of the resort owners. Illegal fishing and much worse, they use dynamites which could also endanger the lives of our divers,” Magpale said.
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