More than a hundred volunteers from government and non-government organizations Friday marked the 18th anniversary declaration of Tañon Strait as a protected seascape.
Tañon Strait lies between the islands of Negros and Cebu and is 161 kilometers or 100 miles long and connects the Visayan Sea and the Bohol Sea.
The Tañon Strait Protected Seascape was established under Proclamation No. 1234 of 1998 during the administration of then President Fidel Ramos.
The anniversary celebration was highlighted by synchronized mangrove planting activities in Badian, Toledo City and San Remigio in Cebu province, Amlan and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental and Calatrava in Negros Occidental.
More than 100 students, volunteers, representatives from Oceana-Philippines and RARE, other non-government organizations and local government and barangay officials participated in the mangrove-planting activity in Badian, where the main celebration was held.
Protected Area Supervisor (PASU) Am Lendio in a telephone interview with this reporter stressed the need to increase public awareness for the protection of Tañon Strait, not just for the current generation but for the generations to come.
Lendio also emphasized collaboration among local government units (LGUs), people’s organizations, and other stakeholders, especially the fisherfolk, to strengthen the campaign against commercial fishing in the Tañon Strait.
Marginalized fishermen are edged out by the commercial fisheries that continue in the strait despite concerted law enforcement efforts, Lendio said.
The PASU is also asking local government officials from the different municipalities and cities along the Tañon Strait to revisit or pass ordinances on fisheries as well as increase information and education campaigns.
PASU Lendio has expressed gratitude to Oceana-Philippines and other similar organizations for ongoing efforts to protect the Tañon Strait.
He also cited law enforcement organizations such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Coast Guard, RARE and the CLEAR-7 in their efforts to address illegal fishing activities in the strait.
Last year, at least four fishing boats were apprehended in the Tañon Strait, Lendio disclosed.
Tañon Strait, the largest marine protected area in the Philippines, is bounded with more than 30 municipalities and cities of Cebu, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental and is major fishing ground.
It is popular for the dolphin- and whale-watching tours.
Just this month, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the largest animal on Planet Earth, was cited visiting part of the Tañon Strait.
Given an unofficial name as “Bughaw”, the blue whale is now the subject of documentation and monitoring by researchers and marine biologists who are hoping to get additional information about the cetacean which was seen for about four consecutive days in Dumaguete City and nearby towns. (PNA/ JFP)
