Continued on page 11

Oceana senior advisor Alexandra Cousteau urged the government

to ensure that the marine resources documented by scientists during the expedition in May 2016 would be protected from commercial exploitation even before their uses are fully known.

The granddaughter of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau capped her two-week visit to the Philippines as the guest speaker at the ‘Kapihan sa Isla’ media forum, held September 10, 2016, in Makati, where scientists and government officials discussed preliminary findings from this year’s expedition to the shallowest part of Benham Rise.

“Today is the day we take enforcement seriously. We need to take science seriously,” said Cousteau, who was named a National

Protect Benham for future generations

3rd Quarter 2016 Issue • Philippines

Oceana/UPLB

Oceana/Danny Ocampo

All to protect the environment and the

oceans, Alexandra Cousteau (left) joins

hands with Environment and Natural

Resources Secretary ‘Gina’ Lopez,

Oceana Philippines vice president Atty.

Gloria Estenzo Ramos, and Director

Mundita Lim of the DENR Biodiversity

Management Bureau.

Phl marine sites are world-class, worth protecting

Alexandra Cousteau with a school of yellow snappers in El Nido, Palawan.

Continued on page 12

Continued on page 11

Alexandra Cousteau wrapped up her two-week tour in the Philippines,

with a diving trip to El Nido in Palawan, which she described as a “world-class” destination worthy of protection.

Cousteau, granddaughter of renowned undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau, visited the Philippines from August 29 to September 11, 2016 to

To restore the beauty and bounty of Tañon Strait, concerned stakeholders

– particularly local government units, fishers’ groups, law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations – should work together to strongly enforce fishery laws to end illegal, destructive and commercial fishing operations in the country’s largest marine protected

A juvenile semicircle angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus) and epaulette soldierfish (Myripristis kuntee) taking shelter among Halimeda spp. underneath boulders.

Restore Tañon’s beauty, bounty

promote awareness on sustainable fisheries management and the global fight against illegal fishing practices.

“When you think about the world that my grandfather started scuba diving in 70 years ago, it was a world that didn’t know what was under the surface of the ocean. As we’ve learned more about the oceans in the past 70 years than ever before, we’ve also lost more of the oceans,” Cousteau said in a media forum organized by Oceana in Makati, on September 10, 2016.

She urged Filipinos to conserve the country’s marine bounty, after seeing

METAMORPHOSEAS By Atty. Gloria ‘Golly’ Estenzo Ramos

Alexandra and Oceana

It was an honor and a privilege to host Oceana’s Senior Advisor, Alexandra

Cousteau, on her first visit to our country.We cannot thank her enough for

catapulting the campaigns of Oceana Philippines into the consciousness of the general public, the media, and our political and government authorities.

Alexandra was able to meet with Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Cynthia Villar and Riza Hontiveros, and Representative Pia Cayetano – who supported Oceana’s advocacy to “Save the Oceans, Feed the World.” They respectively committed to help craft policies and enact appropriate legislation that would promote sustainable use of country’s marine resources.

She also met an equally passionate advocate for the environment and our people, Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who welcomed her and shared her vision of a green Philippines.

In her talks and visits to communities, Alexandra tremendously helped in highlighting our overarching goal to restore fisheries abundance in the country, increasing citizen awareness on the compelling need to act and protect our oceans, and in securing commitments from key decision-makers to implement our world-class laws for the protection of fisheries and the environment.

She talked with students from Silliman University and the University of Cebu, as she also took a dive in El Nido, Palawan, which her grandfather Jacques Cousteau explored along with his team of oceanographers and filmmakers, on

board the ship ‘Calypso’ in the early 1990s. It was quite meaningful to her and to us that she also had her daughter snorkel in the place that her grandfather was decades back.

To all those who made Alexandra’s sentimental journey to the Philippines a most memorable one, we express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.

Maraming salamat po!

In this issue, we also honor the achievements of former agriculture undersecretary for fisheries and national director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Asis G. Perez.

During his six-year term, Director ‘Asis’ — as he is fondly called by his friends and colleagues — took the lead in the framing of Republic Act 10654, which amended and strengthened the Fisheries Code, at a precarious time when our country was given a yellow card warning by the European Union, our number 1 importer of fish and fish products. That the warning was eventually lifted is an indication of his strong leadership in pushing for a sustainable path for fisheries management in the country.

He championed the strong and vigorous implementation of the closed fishing season in the Visayas, Zamboanga, Davao Gulf and Palawan --- the country’s major fishing grounds, particularly for sardines.

He helped empowered small

2

fisherfolk and their families, and partnered strongly with civil society organizations, including Oceana.

He had enforcers trained vigorously to enhance their skills in performing their mandates.

As one of his colleagues, Atty. Hector Soliman, of the Alternative Law Group, said: “Asis planted many seeds in the marine and fishery sector. A few years down the road, we will realize that he has made a difference.”

On behalf of Oceana Philippines, we take our hats off to Director Asis, as we at the same time welcome his successor, Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona (Ret., PCG) as the National Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Undersecretary for Fisheries of the Department of Agriculture.

Once again, in the succeeding pages, we feature our initiatives and partnerships with fishers’ groups, local government units, fellow CSOs, and concerned agencies notably the BFAR and DENR – all aimed at protecting our pristine oceans, particularly Tañon Strait and other marine protected areas in the country.

Mabuhay!

From left, 1st photo shows Alexandra Cousteau with Vice President Leni Robredo (middle), and (from left) Atty. Ramos, campaigns director Daniel Ocampo and communications associate Candeze Mongaya; 2nd photo - Alexandra and Atty. Ramos with Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; 3rd photo - Alexandra and Atty. Ramos with House of Representatives deputy speaker Pia Cayetano, and Senator Risa Hontiveros; 4th photo - Alexandra, Atty. Ramos and Ocampo with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources assistant director Drusila Bayate.

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For standing firm and championing the closed fishing season in the Philippines,

and for forging closer partnerships with small fisherfolk and civil society organizations, former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) chief) Asis G. Perez was recently cited by his colleagues for the legacy he left behind after serving government from 2011 to 2016.

Perez, a veterinarian and lawyer by profession, was jointly recognized by four CSOs for “his dedication, distinguished leadership and invaluable contribution to our country in instituting the necessary fisheries reforms, such as banning the hulbot-hulbot gear, closed season declaration for certain species of fish, strengthening the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing, and effective law enforcement.”

The four CSOs were led by lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines; lawyer Marlon Manuel, national coordinator of Alternative Law Group; Marita Rodriquez, executive director of NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR); and Arsenio Tanchuling, executive director of Tambuyog Development Center.

“Director Asis Perez opened up the Bureau of Fisheries, and welcomed the strong participation of civil society organizations, including Oceana, to participate in framing RA 10654, that amended and revised

the previous Fisheries Code, and its implementing rules and regulations,” said Atty. Ramos of Oceana, in her opening remarks.

Champion of closed fishing season“He championed the implementation

of closed fishing season, which was accepted by fishing communities and commercial fishers and workers. He opened up BFAR, highlighted with greater involvement of civil society organizations, and welcomed their respective inputs in the framing of RA 10654 and its IRR,” added Rodriguez of NFR.

“Asis worked hard and proposed a bigger budget for BFAR, enabling the agency to implement needed projects like fish landing and cold chain program in strategic coastal fishing communities,” said Atty. Manuel of Alternative Law Group.

The budget of BFAR more than doubled from P1.9 billion in 2010 to P4.64 billion in 2016. Further, a new BFAR building is being construction along Visayas Ave. Currently, it shares offices with the Philippine Coconut Authority, along Elliptical Road, in Diliman, Quezon City.

“He worked for the empowerment

of fisherfolk. We held rallies, not against, but supporting Asis and BFAR,” said Tanchuling of Tambuyog.

Laid good foundationFor his part, new BFAR director Eduardo

Gongona thanked Perez “for laying the platform, a good foundation,” adding that under his leadership the agency will focus on providing and teaching livelihood to small fishers and their families during the closed fishing season.

“And as more than 30% of fish catch is wasted, there is need to establish cold storage facilities. BFAR will continue its programs to attain sustainable fishery production and aim for food sufficiency in two years, as per instructions of DA Secretary Manny Piñol,” said Gongona at the “Gabi ng Parangal para kay Atty. Asis Perez,” October 12, 2016, in Quezon City.

Atty. Ted Bonpin of Alternative Law Group said Perez has served as a “strategic police” of the country’s fisheries sector during his six-year term. Bonpin considers Perez as his “soul friend and soul mate” being born on the same day, October 4.

“Asis planted many seeds in the marine and fishery sector, and a few years down the road we will realize that he has made a difference. He was a positive influence on his staff, colleagues and other people, particularly small fisherfolk, sharing ‘light bulb moments’ with them,” noted Atty. Hector Soliman of Alternative Law Group.

Mediator, facilitatorGlenn Forbes, former colleague of Perez at

Tanggol Kalikasan, said “Asis is a mediator and facilitator. Having worked with him for 17 years, he served as my mentor and big brother.”

While they were conducting an operation in Isabela several years back, Forbes said “Asis showed his deep concern, when I nearly drowned in a river in Isabela. He kept shouting my name on the top of his voice, looking for me.”

BFAR assistant director Atty. Benjamin Tabios said of Perez: “I literally worked with him. Hatian kami sa trabaho. He talked of his vision and worked hard to attain it, and he professed a ‘build better concept’ like the fiberglass boats.”

Perez’s former staff showed a video documentary, entitled ‘Hanggang sa Muli,’ citing his accomplishments as a servant-leader or ‘pinunong-lingkod.’

In his reply, Perez, who is back as part of Tanggol Kalikasan, said he will continue to pursue strong alliances with small fisherfolk and CSOs, promote responsible capture fisheries and good aquaculture practices, intensify fishery resource protection, conservation and management, and restore and rehabilitate marine protected areas.

CSOs honor former BFAR chiefOceana/Danny Ocampo

Former agriculture undersecretary for fisheries and national director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Asis G. Perez (left) accepts a citation from civil society organizations (CSOs), recognizing his achievements during his six-year term. He was succeeded by former Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Eduardo Gongona (2nd from left). Joining them (from left) are: Marita Rodriquez, of NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR); Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, of Oceana Philippines; Arsenio Tanchuling, of Tambuyog Development Center; and Atty. Hector Soliman, of Alternative Law Group.

or village officials, municipal fisheries and aquatic resources councils (MFARMCs), including people’s organizations (POs) and civil society organizations.

In all, Flores said the discussion highlighted how local communities and POs understand and appreciate artificial reefs and coral transplantation and rehabilitation, so they could craft coral reef rehabilitation and management plans.

The five experts who served as discussants and their respective topics were:

• Donna Guarte, of University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), who shared the “Status of coastal habitats in Concepcion, Iloilo.” She said the natural reef areas in Concepcion are generally within poor to fair condition, and there are several ARs deployed in some marine protected areas;

• Dr. Aileen Maypa, of Siliman University, discussed coral reef rehabilitation in Siquijor

Are artificial reefs, coral rehab effective?

This was the main question answered by several Filipino experts, sharing their

respective knowledge and experiences, at a round table discussion on artificial reefs and coral rehabilitation, held in Concepcion, Iloilo, August 23, 2016.

Undoubtedly, the establishment of artificial reefs and implementation of coral rehabilitation projects are effective in promoting sustainable fisheries and protecting marine habitats, according to five discussants during the event, organized and sponsored by the Zoological Society of London.

“The experts said artificial reefs or ARs could be useful when used with proper science, otherwise it could even worsen overfishing and habitat destruction,” said Jimely Flores, senior marine scientist of Oceana Philippines, who were among the 50 participants at the roundtable discussion.

“Some of the data needed are the type of substrate, natural species occurring in the area, and water circulation, among others. And robust consultation with stakeholders, particularly fishers and village officials, is also a must,” Flores said in her report to Oceana vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

Natural coral reefs provide habitat and shelter for various marine organisms and species, and protect coastlines from damaging effects of strong waves and typhoons. When damaged by natural and man-made causes like dynamite and cyanide fishing, these could be replaced by artificial reefs — made of concrete and other stable, non-leaching materials — that attract algae, barnacles, corals, and oysters. As these attach and thrive, they serve as safe refuge and habitat for marine and fish species.

Jackstone-type ARsFlores said most of the ARs currently used in

the country are the “jackstone-type” as these deter artisanal active fishing gears in coastal areas such as beach seines and push nets. ARs made of worn-out tires are now discouraged because of the leaching issue, and they are unstable.

She added that coral transplantation is also an alternative to rehabilitate damaged habitats. This option, however, needs proper planning to make it cost-effective and non-destructive to the natural processes and marine inhabitants in the area.

Further, proper protocols should be developed when using artificial reefs and coral transplants, said Flores, adding that these should be crafted by concerned national government agencies like the DENR and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Consequently, the protocols should be cascaded to the local government units (LGUs) and adapt them as a policy in the form of city or municipal ordinances on establishing artificial reefs and implementing a coral rehabilitation program. Thereafter, the ordinance should be strictly promulgated by all concerned stakeholders like the fisherfolk and barangay

and Apo Island. She said fish abundance is not dependent on the live coral cover, but on the rugosity of the habitat or the ruggedness of the seafloor that induces turbulence and promotes faster coral growth. She said that mapping and site-specific planning are needed before coral replantation could be done;

• Charlon Ligson, of UP Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), shared their successful coral restoration program in Bolinao, Pangasinan;

• Dino Nuñal of BFAR Region VI, talked on the status of AR program in Western Visayas, where about 1,000 units are deployed. They observed successful coral colonization in Aklan; and

• Dr. Vincent Hilomen, of the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), discussed an update of their coral rehabilitation program.

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Fishers load jackstone-type cement artificial reefs (ARs) on a bamboo raft that will be tugged by a motorized boat (background) to a nearby marine protected area in Barbara, Antique. The jackstone-type ARs are popularly used as they deter active fishing gears, while providing corals and invertebrates with solid attachment points.

OWWA Region 6

OWWA Region 6

5

Iloilo fishers catch 3 kg-450kg/trip

Oceana, UP Visayas conduct sardine study

In a single night, fishers in Concepcion, Iloilo, may catch as few as three kilograms

(kg) of lubo-lubo — referring to a mixture of juvenile sardines, anchovies and other kind of fishes — to as much as 450 kg.

A catch of small-sized lubo-lubo may only fetch Php40 a kilo, while the bigger sizes sell for Php60 a kilo.

Hence, on a single fishing trip, fisherfolk in Concepcion, Iloilo — a third-class coastal municipality at the northeastern part of Panay Island — take home or sell at least Php120-worth of lubo-lubo to as much as Php18,000.

Concepcion is one of the landing sites of sardines in Iloilo, said Jimely Flores, senior marine scientist at Oceana Philippines.

“Concepcion fishermen continuously scan the sea until a school of fish is detected. The fishing ground is almost always within municipal waters or 15 kilometers (km) from the shoreline”, Flores said in her report to Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines.

“Catch per trip (night) ranges from a measly three kilograms (kg) to as much as 450 kg, with a maximum of three settings per night,” said Flores, who joined Alexanra Bagarinao, on August 22, 2016, to interview Concepcion fishers, as part of Oceana’s research to collect data and samples of sardines and other fish species collected by field enumerators.

Concepcion is one of the fishing villages where landings of sardines are monitored by Dr. Wilfredo Campos, who serves as consultant on the sardine fisheries and

Oceana Philippines has commissioned a study on sardine fisheries in the

Visayan Sea and Ticao-Burias Passage, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation Inc., under the supervision of Dr. Wilfredo Campos.

For the Visayan Sea, the study will regularly monitor two selected sardine sites in Concepcion, and Carles, both in Iloilo, said Jimely Flores, marine scientist at Oceana Philippines.

Researchers and survey enumerators will determine the popularly used fishing gears to catch sardines (Sardinella spp.), and areas where it is regularly caught, said Flores. The monitoring teams are under the supervision of Dr. Campos and Carles municipal agriculture office.

Flores said Dr. Campos recently met with 16 fishermen in Carles, Iloilo, representing four coastal barangays (Dayhagan, Guinticdan, Poblacion and Bancal), who are using 27 types of fishing gears, but only a

reproductive biology studies in the Visayan sea and Northern Samar-Bicol waters.

Fish sells Php40 to Php60 per kgFish traders buy the small sizes at Php40

per kg, Flores said, and the good sizes at a premium of Php60 per kilo. Trading is mostly done at sea as fish carrier boats owned by processing plants buy directly from fishing boats to ensure proper post-harvest handling. When fish carrier boats are not available, the fishermen sell their catch at the Concepcion municipal fish port, Flores added.

During the interview, most of the sardines caught were Sardinella species on their immature stages

There are about five fishing boats in the area, ranging from 2.5 to 5 GT, and most are equipped with low resolution fish finders. Their fishing gear, called Sinsuro, is locally-made and designed, and its specification depends on the boat capacity.

“According to the boat captain we talked with, Sinsuro fishing started more than 20 years ago, catering for the sardines processing plants in Concepcion, which some of them export their dried and frozen fish products to Taiwan and other Asian countries,” Flores said.

For fishing boats weighing about four (4) gross tons (GT), fishers use nets with a gross spread area of about 5,000 square meters, depending on water current. The nets are spread wider when current is strong.

Fishing season in Concepcion peaks at April to June, and sometimes in December, but fishing is year-round, according to

fishers, said Flores. They get out at around 3pm and stays at sea from five to eight hours.

Flores said what is commendable in Concepcion, that other coastal should follow, is its municipality has enacted an ordinance that prohibits fishing within 200 meters from its shoreline. Violators are fined Php5,000 pesos per offense.

Another site the Oceana team monitored was Talotu-an, an island-barangay of Concepcion, where purse seiners are based. During the time of the visit, fishers caught mostly mature Sardinella sardine species.

few are used to catch sardines, particularly ‘likos’ (ringnet) and lagulo (gillnet).

The Carles fishermen said Likos could catch an average of 1 ton of sardines per operation, which is done at night, during the months of January to May. They said sardine fishing is done for 10 to 15 days per month, and some of the fishing boats that use ‘likos’ are equipped with ‘fish-finders.’

Those who use ‘lagulo’ (gillnet) catches an average of 10 kilograms per operation, which is done in the morning. The peak sardine season in Carles is usually from May to October during the height of the southwest monsoon. Aside from sardines, the fishermen said lagulo is also used to catch ‘hasa-hasa’ (Rastrelliger spp.).

Flores said after determining the fishing gears for sardines and the major landing sites, the research team screened several volunteers to serve as survey enumerators. They chose two individuals and trained them on how to gather needed survey data.

She said the technical researchers assigned in the area will regularly visit Carles to further train the enumerators on how to correctly identify sardine species and collect biological samples. Thereafter, Flores said sardine monitoring will commence.

She said initial findings based on collected sardine gonads for maturity analysis revealed that the sardine fish catch in the area is diverse.

During the training in Carles, Flores said they saw two boats docked at the fish landing port. These are a modified danish seine (MDS) or hulbot-hulbot and a commercial-scale trawler.

The team will also conduct similar training of fishermen and enumerators in Concepcion, Iloilo.

Flores said the information collected in Carles and Concepcion, Iloilo, will be used as part of the baseline data for the national sardine framework plan.

Fishers in Concepcion, Iloilo (top

photo) regularly catch lubo-lubo

— a mixture of juvenile sardines,

anchovies and other kind of fishes

— for home consumption and sale

in a nearby market.

Oceana/Jimely Flores

Oceana/Jimely Flores

6

While it was a short visit to the Philippines, Alexandra Cousteau has generated an

impressive media mileage, thus rekindling her grandfather’s legacy.

Many observers and media-friends simply said: “Cousteau’s legacy is alive and beautiful in Alexandra, a goodwill ambassador for ocean conservation.”

Indeed, the grandchild of renowned undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau has kept at par with her ‘star’ billing, as a ‘National Geographic Emerging Explorer,’ a filmmaker, and a staunch environment advocate.

Meeting lady-legislators, technocratsOn her first day of engagement, on August 30,

she first met with the country’s top lady legislators: Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on environment and natural resources; Senator Riza Hontiveros; and Representative Pia

An unforgettable experience,” said Alexandra Cousteau, describing

her underwater exploration of the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

“The Philippines is the ‘center of the center’ of marine biodiversity in the world, that is why I wanted to see it for myself,” Cousteau said during the celebration of ‘Ocean Day’ at the University of Cebu, in Cebu City, on September 5, 2016, a day after her first exploration of the Apo Island, Negros

Cayetano. Later in the afternoon, she led a media

forum in Makati along with Oceana Philippines officers, led by lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

The following day, she called on the feisty Environment Secretary Regina ‘Gina’ Lopez, who committed to helping Oceana and other civil society organizations restore and protect the country’s oceans and marine resources, particularly the marine protected areas.

She also had an audience with Dr. Esther Drusila Bayate, assistant director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), on behalf of agriculture undersecretary and national BFAR director Eduardo Gongona. Bayate recounted to Alexandra when she met Jacques Cousteau when she was studying in Europe for her post-

Cousteau gives 2 thumbs up to Apo Island

graduate degree in fisheries.On September 1, she and Ramos, along

with Oceana Philippines officers, met with Vice President Leni Robredo, who appreciated Oceana’s advocacy as she once supported the cause of small fisherfolk and their families in third district of Camarines Sur, where she first served as a member of the House of Representatives, from 2013 to 2016.

Dives in Apo Island, El NidoAfter the formal meetings, she went

to her heart’s desire, taking a dive in Apo Island, in Datuin, Negros Oriental, and in El Nido, Palawan, appreciating their respective beauties and bounties.

At Apo Island, she interacted with community leaders, including the youth, who

Oriental’s famous marine sanctuary.Along with environmental lawyer Gloria

Estenzo-Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines, Cousteau also rallied university students to help protect the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).

Ocean explorationExploring the Philippines’s marine

abundance, as part of her ocean-conservation advocacy, has been on Cousteau’s bucket list for a long time.

She is currently working on a project to Alexandra shows an “OK” sign after a dive in Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental.

Alexandra Cousteau chances upon a quaint endangered green sea turtle, as she explores the rich marine life in Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental.

Alexandra Cousteau

Oceana/Danny Ocampo

Spotlight on Alexandra

7

Cousteau gives 2 thumbs up to Apo Island

Continued on page 9

Continued on page 8

A 3rd generation Cousteau in our midst

Her name rings a bell. Being a marine explorer, filmmaker and

conservationist is already in her genes.Yes, she is a Cousteau, she is

Alexandra Cousteau. Who would forget her grandfather,

Jacques Cousteau?He “sailed the world for much

of the late 20th century, educating millions about the Earth’s oceans and its inhabitants—and inspiring their protection?” the National Geographic.com described him in its tribute for his birth centennial in 2010.

Jacques Cousteau educated the world, this journalist included, about protecting the oceans.

Articles about his underwater activities have become part of the horde of materials this journalist has used as reference on the issue, like a bible or have published many moons ago.

The elder Cousteau heralded the world with his pioneering underwater documentaries, including the Oscar-winning films The Silent World, The Golden Fish and World Without Sun.

And of course, he is also known for his invention, along with Emile Gagnan, of the self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, or popularly SCUBA, also known as Aqualung, which made life under water possible.

Promote sustainable fisheriesAlexandra Cousteau is in town to

promote awareness on sustainable fisheries management and the global fight against illegal-fishing practices.

Her trip to the country, as part of her being a senior advisor of Oceana, is made more exciting because she will go on a diving trip to El Nido, Palawan, which her grandfather explored in his ship Calypso in the early 1990s.

Alexandra brought along her family, including her 5-year-old daughter Clementine and 11-month-old son Balthasar. Her daughter is equally excited as she will snorkel in El Nido for the first time.

“Coming here to the Philippines is quite special to me, especially the visit to Palawan, which my grandfather has explored,” Alexandra told reporters at a briefing hosted by Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization on ocean conservation.

It is a “legacy I would be able to share with my child. It is beautiful, the love for the oceans, conservation,” she said.

Calling El Nido “a museum,” Alexandra will be working on a documentary.

She will be looking at the impact of climate change and illegal fishing practices in El Nido’s coral reefs and the livelihoods of the residents.

At Oceana “we have a vision that we will be able to have enough quality change…to stop illegal fishing,” Alexandra said,

Ocean conservation: All in the familyBecoming an ocean-conservation advocate

was not forced on her, but it was a “gradual thing…a long time ago” because “the places I love as a child are disappearing, and it broke my heart.” When asked if her children have interests in following her footsteps, “if they want to,” she said.

She added: “My daughter, Clementine, is sensitive to environmental issues. I didn’t brainwash them, of course, but she is my daughter, she sees what I do, she’s been in the expeditions since she was two months old, we talk about nature, she goes to a forest in a kindergarten field all day. My goal is for her to fall in love with nature, and to enjoy nature, and make her own choices.”

Alexandra’s advocacy has also affected her lifestyle. She does not eat fish or meat because “I know so much about the fish and meat industry and it turns me off, and I just don’t want to be a part of it.

“There is a lot of seafood fraud, illegal fishing, and I don’t know where the fish is

document both the ocean’s abundance and destruction, and has picked the Philippines for the job, along with Peru and the US, upon the invitation of Oceana Philippines. Cousteau also visited El Nido in Palawan, considered as the country’s last ecological frontier, and said she will be back for more ocean adventures in the Philippines.

Danny Ocampo, an experienced diver and Oceana Philippines campaigns director, said Cousteau was obviously pleased with what she saw on Apo Island.

He accompanied Cousteau during her dives,

Alexandra Cousteau chances upon a quaint endangered green sea turtle, as she explores the rich marine life in Apo Island, Dauin, Negros Oriental.

Alexandra meets with students at Apo Island, encouraging them to take an active part in saving the oceans for themselves and future generations.

Oceana/Danny Ocampo

from…though I was never a huge fish eater anyway. I don’t miss it at all, to be honest. Though I have nothing against meat, I have nothing against fish. In fact, I think eating fish is a huge part of our climate solution, if we can stop overfishing, we can have more fish, that’s my goal, people should eat more fish, healthy fish, fish that are old enough to be sustainably caught…to be sustainable and enough left for other creatures in the ocean.”

End illegal fishing in TañonAlexandra also explored Tañon Strait,

where Oceana is working to end illegal, commercial fishing and ensure that artisanal fishers will benefit the most.

“Tañon Strait is one of the top marine biodiversity hot spots in the country. A strong monitoring mechanism is necessary to ensure that our marine wealth is protected against illegal commercial and destructive

are into protecting their marine reserve. She also met with students at the Silliman

University in Dumaguete, and at the University of Cebu Banilad Campus, in Cebu City.

One of the highlights of her visit was a diving trip to El Nido, where his grandfather Jacques explored with his team of oceanographers and filmmakers on board his boat ‘Calypso’ in the early 1990s.

While in El Nido, Alexandra along with her family enjoyed the pristine island and its dive sites. She and five-year daughter Clementine found time to snorkel, as husband Fritz Neumeyer, a German architect, and 11-month-old son Balthasar frolicked on El Nido’s fine beaches.

She capped her 12-day visit on September 10, 2016, when she joined a panel at the ‘Kapihan sa Isla’ media forum on the successful second Benham Bank technical expedition.

Oceana/Danny Ocampo

Marine park rangers train to protect Tañon

To ensure that Tañon Strait remains protected and free from illegal and

commercial fishers, a paralegal training was conducted to a new set of marine park rangers, on September 26 to 30, in Dumaguete City.

The “Fisheries Law Enforcement Training and Deputation of Park Rangers” was organized by Rare Philippines and Tañon Strait Protected Seascape Protected Area Office (TSPS-PAO), as part of the capacity building for the Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs) project in 17 coastal towns and cities, said Daniel Ocampo, canpaigns director of Oceana Philippines.

The training included lectures on communication protocols, processes on apprehension and documentation, information gathering, and on Fisheries Code (RA 8550) as amended by RA 10654, said Ocampo in his report to Oceana Philippines vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

Oceana legal and policy associate Atty. Roger Joseph Guzman also served as a resource speaker, discussing issues on RA 10654.

Ocampo also presented the use of Vessel Monitoring Mechanisms (VMM) to monitor fishing vessels, and deter illegal, destructive and commercial fishing in Tañon Strait.

“The activity helped our protection and conservation campaign in Tañon by empowering fishermen who will help enforce fisheries laws, and apprehend illegal fishers. It also helped us reach out to more stakeholders and convince them to join us in our campaign against commercial fishing in Tañon Strait, and urge the TSPS Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to adopt VMM,” said Ocampo.

“In fact, one participant from Calatrava proposed that VMM be added as a requirement for vessels when they renew their licenses next year with their respective LGUs and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),” added Ocampo.

He said Manric Barillo, Negros Oriental provincial environment and natural resources officer, commended Oceana, as it was instrumental in promoting volunteerism and recognizing people who have been working hard to protect Tañon Strait, through the “Ocean Heroes Award.” Barillo also urged the participants to nominate people to the next round of awards next year.

The 17 LGUs where Rare implements its MKBA project are: in Cebu (10) - Alegria, Aloguinsan, Badian, Bantayan, Ginatilan, Moalboal, Samboan, Santa Fe, San Remegio and Santander; in Negros Oriental (5) - Amlan, Bais City, Guihulngan City, La Libertad and San Jose; and in Negros Occidental (2) - Calatrava and Toboso.

Rare invited at least two from each LGU to attend the training, but some sent more than two representatives, who were still accommodated because “we need a lot of help to strengthen enforcement efforts at Tañon Strait,” said Rosa Antes, Rare TSPS program manager.

Antes said the park rangers will work closely with the TSPS joint task group -- consisting of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine National Police, Maritime Police, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Coast Guard, among others -- in the enforcement of fishery laws.

The training is the second batch conducted by Rare and TSPS-PAO. The first batch involved Bantay-Dagat personnel and members of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils in Tañon strait, Antes added.

TSPS protected area supervisor Prospero Am Lendio welcomed the trainees, noting they will be a big help in the enforcement of fishery laws to deter illegal commercial fishing in Tañon Strait, the country’s largest marine protected area that lies between Cebu and Negros.(By Noel O. Reyes, with reports from Judy

Flores Partlow, PNA)

8

Participants are given instructions on how to

properly board vessels for inspection. Inset above is

one of the two BFAR patrol boats used during the

five–day training.

BFAR conducts fishery stock assessment

including around Apo Island, where Cousteau encountered several marine turtles.

Two thumbs up“She was signaling with two thumbs up

underwater. As if she’s telling me this is what it is supposed to be,” Ocampo said.

“It is nice to see Apo Island again. I always say it is a source of inspiration to a lot of people involved in marine conservation. I think it is apt to say that Apo Island launched a thousand of marine-protected areas (MPAs) in the Philippines and globally,” he added.

Ocampo said there is a need for synergy among stakeholders to replicate the success story of Apo Island’s famous marine sanctuary, and for political will on the part of the leaders.

He cited the chairman of Barangay Apo, who sent several people to jail, including his distant relatives, for violating the fisheries and environmental laws.

Three generations of explorersCousteau said it is a wonderful opportunity

to visit Apo Island, which she described as “a wonderful example of stewardship, marine conservation and sustainable livelihood, as it is truly a wonderful experience.”

“When my grandfather started exploring the ocean, nobody knew what was there,” Cousteau said, referring to her grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, a renowned French undersea explorer, researcher, photographer and documentary host, who invented diving and scuba devices. The elder Cousteau, in the early-1990s, explored El Nido, Palawan’s marine abundance.

“The Philippines is intimately connected to the ocean. Conserving and protecting the ocean is not a sacrifice in development, but an opportunity to enrich your life and your children’s lives by restoring the abundance of the ocean,” added Cousteau, a third-generation explorer, as her father, Philippe, is also in the same field.

Securing the futureTo protect the ocean, Cousteau said Filipinos

could help stop overfishing, stop by-catch and

expand MPAs.“If we do them well, we can provide more

food for the people, more opportunities and we secure our future and our children’s future,” she said.

Ramos, an environmental lawyer, said there are adequate laws to protect the country’s oceans.

“The laws are in place; all we need is to enforce the law,” she said, lamenting the fact that despite the creation of MPAs in various parts of the country, both national and local, illegal fishing activities persist.

The biggest threat to MPAs, she said, are the encroachment of large commercial fishing vessels in supposed “no-take zones,” or even areas exclusive to small fishermen. (By Jonathan Mayuga, BusinessMirror)

Cousteau gives 2 thumbs up ... from page 7

DA-BFAR starts demarcation of fishing areas

The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (DA-BFAR) started demarcating the country’s major fishing areas, starting with Southern Luzon and Visayas zone.

The agency conducted a technical workshop, on July 19 to 21, 2016, in Cebu City, to implement a provision of the fisheries Code (RA 8550) as amended by RA 10564, which states that: “The Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) shall demarcate the Philippine waters into distinct fishing areas, in coordination with National Mapping and Resource Information (NAMRIA), and produce a map of the Philippine waters, with each fishing area being designated with a number code and color code.”

An initiative of BFAR Licensing and Regulatory Division, led by Jojo Escobar and Peter Erick Gadapan, the workshop was attended by officials and representatives of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), NAMRIA, Philippine Coast Guard, several academic institutions, and civil society organizations such as Oceana, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Rare Philippines, said senior marine scientist Jimely Flores, in her report to Oceana Philippines vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

Ecosystem frameworkAt the workshop, BFAR officials discussed

the ecosystem-based principles as the guiding framework in the demarcation of fishing areas, Flores said.

The first part of the workshop dealt with the presentation of ecological and biological studies made and presently undertaken by the participants, led by the NFRDI-National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) researchers, who shared the different biological characteristics of some of their areas of studies.

The academe, WWF and Oceana also presented their respective researches in the Visayas and Southern Luzon, Flores said.

The workshop participants validated the fishing areas or bodies of water in Southern Luzon and the Visayas, based on the NAMRIA Nautical Chart 4706.

These include the: Visayan Sea, Sibuyan Sea, Cuyo Pass, Mindoro Strait, Tablas Strait, Ragay Gulf, Burias Pass, Tañon Strait, Guimaras Strait, Panay Gulf, Manila

Bay, Zambales Bay, Luzon Sea, West Palawan Waters, Lamon Bay, Lagonoy Gulf, Ticao Pass, Samar Sea, Carigara Bay, Leyte Gulf, Camotes Sea, part of West Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean-Philippines Sea.

The workshop participants also identified several fisheries management areas, which Flores said are relevant to Oceana’s sardines campaign. These include the: Asid Gulf, Visayan Sea, Ragay Gulf-Burias Pass, Ticao Pass, Masbate Pass, Sorsogon Bay, part of San Bernardino Strait, Carigara Bay and Samar Sea.

They also agreed that “fishing areas should be looked into holistically, to include the aspect of management of resources, as mandated by the Fisheries Code,” said Flores.

The BFAR Licensing and Regulatory Division is keen on continuing the workshops within the first semester of 2017 to demarcate the fishing areas in North and Central Luzon, and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, she concluded.

9

Map shows fishing areas in Southern Luzon-Visayas zone, as delineated by DA-BFAR and mapped by NAMRIA. Source: BFAR licensing and regulatory division

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR) conducted a workshop attended by data analysts to enhance their skills in fishery stock assessment works, which are regularly conducted in areas where a three-month closed fishing season is declared.

The workshop started with the basic concepts of fisheries stock assessments, estimating mortality, and latest analytical tools, among other topics, said Jimely Flores in her report to Oceana Philippine vice president Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos.

Held in Mactan, Cebu, from September 25 to 30, the workshop was attended by at least two data analysts of the National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) from BFAR

regional offices. It was organized and funded by the EDF.

The one-week workshop featured two foreign senior marine scientists as trainors, namely: Dr. Todd Gedamke, founder of MER consultants, based in Fort Lauderdale, USA; and Dr. Jose Ingles, program coordinator of Fisheries Improvement Project Policy at Oceana, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Coral Triangle program.

During the workshop, Flores shared with the BFAR data analysts Oceana’s sardines campaign, particularly the sardines’ reference points in selected areas in the country. She noted that Oceana’s and BFAR’s data on sardines are relatively abundant, and that further work is needed to verify, encode and analyze the current statistics and research on hand.

The workshop participants agreed that mechanisms be developed to enable them to come up with accurate and timely information, which will serve as tools for DA-BFAR management’s policy decisions, Flores added.

She said “the meeting point of ideas is to really implement a fisheries independent survey to come up with a real time value recommendation on the allowable catch before the start or opening of the closed fishing season”

“Oceana will continue to complement the efforts of BFAR-NSAP regional analysts to strengthen their data base as a vital component of the national management framework plan for sardines,” she concluded.

fishing,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president for Oceana Philippines.

Ramos said that, despite the area’s protected status, many challenges persist, including overfishing, conversion of coastal habitats to industrial uses and pollution. These activities destroy fish habitats and populations, and adversely affect the livelihood of artisanal fishers.

Legacy: Abundant ocean“This is what I want to give to my

daughter… an ocean that is abundant forour children,” Alexandra said.

“Here in the Philippines, it is the center of marine biodiversity. I want to learn more about the issues here and to add my voice to advocate for that future

“This is the time to act in promoting awareness on sustainable fisheries management, not tomorrow, it is not the next day. It is today...

“We have the window of opportunity to bring the kind of changes to bring back a diverse and abundant ocean that would benefit our fishermen, our children, the whales and sharks, and dolphins, that will benefit us all,” Alexandra concluded. (By Lyn Resurreccion, BusinessMirror)

A 3rd

generation ... from page 7

10

Has fish population increased due to policies implemented by Oceana?

The answer to this question will be known as soon as a model or an evaluation system is put in place that would estimate fish population in an area where an Oceana-initiated policy is implemented.

The crafting of such an evaluation model was the core of a recent Vibrant Oceans Initiative (VOI) workshop participated in by 10 Filipino and foreign marine scientist and experts, and coordinated by Oceana Philippines and Rare Philippines, in partnership with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Oceana chief scientist Dr. Michael Hirshfield moderated the two-day workshop, which invited UCSB Sustainable Fisheries Group marine scientist Michaela Clemence and Tyler Clavel as resource persons.

Dr. Hirshfield commended the continuing efforts of Oceana and Rare Philippines — represented respectively by Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos and Raquel Tirona — for their respective policies and initiatives to help improve the sustainability of Philippine oceans through improved fisheries management.

Evaluation modelHe said the workshop, held April 5-6,

2016, was conducted to gather inputs from Philippine fisheries scientists and develop an evaluation model that will estimate the amount of fish generated as a result of policy interventions initiated by Oceana and Rare.

“Oceana Philippines is honored to host this event that would support our policy initiatives with scientific data gathered from our project areas, particularly the coastal barangays and towns in Tañon Strait,” said Atty. Ramos, vice president of Oceana, during the workshop opening ceremonies.

“We believe the model will serve as a communication instrument to translate science into useful policies and policy reforms for fisheries management to conserve and protect our oceans for the benefit of succeeding generations of Filipinos,” added Ramos.

For her part, Tirona of Rare said they will continue to pursue behavioral change among fisherfolk and other stakeholders to attain a sustainable small scale fishery in the country. She said Rare will continue to work closely with Oceana for a holistic approach in tackling issues in fisheries.

During the workshop proper, UCSB modelers said a model is a depiction of

reality. “The more detail one inputs, the closer it is to reality,” she told the participants, whose expertise ranges from advocacy, legal and policy, to fisheries and coastal resources management, and who have experience in modeling, from simple Excel models to complicated R and Ecopath modeling.

For his part, UCSB modelling expert Clavel presented a global status of fisheries using KOBE model, and a snapshot of the status and trends of Philippine fishery stock, which appeared to be highly overfished.

The management intervention such as fishing at maximum sustainable yield will lead to increases in catch, biomass and fishers’ incomes. He said they will use data and information from Filipino fishery experts as a leverage for the success of the model.

Clavel said they will develop a flexible evaluation model making using of available data and thereafter provide realistic predictions for Philippine setting, including recommended management interventions like banning commercial fishing within municipal waters and use of destructive fishing gears.

The model will use “Pella-Tomlinson Growth Model” and will not be site-specific. It will be composed of three models: biological, habitat and fleet models. The latter model will show the interaction between prices, costs, demands, fleet responsiveness and fleet skill.

He said the evaluation model involves identifying archetypes which represent prevalent groups of fish species.

These include: small pelagics (like scads, sardines, anchovies, small tunas, mackerels, squids and flying fish); large pelagics (tuna, marlin/billfish, mackerel, sharks, rays and dorado); deep water (slope fisheries); soft bottom fisheries (siganids, sapsap or pony fishes/slipmouth, blue crabs, sea cucumber,

shrimps); invertebrate fisheries; and hard bottom fisheries (groupers, snappers, lobsters, ornamental fishes, and reef fishes).

He said other needed information include: types of fishing fleets; fishing gears used; presence of destructive gears; current degree of habitat degradation from destructive fishing; current fish stock status; and current fishing pressure.

Attained objectives As the two-day event ended, Clemence

and Clavel said they were able to attain the workshop objectives and gathered more information and data than what they expected, and identified data gaps and sources of additional information.

They look forward to developing an evaluation model and coordinate with the participants for additional inputs.

The participants also expressed their interest in collaborating with one another in terms of data sharing and networking.

The participants included former DENR Secretary Angel Alcala, currently with Silliman University; Dr. Ma. Lourdes Palomares, Sea Around Us Project, University of British Columbia;

Jose Ingles, WWF-Coral Triangle Program; Emilie Litsinger, Environmental Defense Fund; Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio – Philippine Earth Justice Center; Nygiel Armada, Ecofish; Sony De Guzman, Gaia Resource and Environmental Consultancy Services; Farisal Bagsit, UP Visayas; Francis Greg Bucat, BFAR-Region 1; and Francisco Torres, BFAR National Fisheries Research and Development Institute. (with reports from Marianne Pan Saniano, Oceana marine scientist)

Oceana conducts workshop on fishery stat model

VOI workshop participants are shown (front row, from left): Jimely Flores, Dr. Asuncion De Guzman,

Farisal Bagsit, Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Dr. Angel Alcala, Atty. Liza Eisma-Osorio, Marianne

Pan-Saniano, Dr. Maria Lourdes Palomares, and Michaela Clemence. Behind them (2nd row, from

left) are: Christine Dar-Sicada, Roger Joseph Guzman, Atty. Edward Lorenzo, Emily Litsinger, Dr. Jose

Ingles, Tyler Clavel, Dr. Michael Hirshfield, Francis Greg Buccat, and Ronquelito Mancao.

their beauty during her diving trips. “I just saw Palawan and El Nido with my own eyes, and it is world-class,” she said.

At the Apo island in Negros Oriental, she swam with sea turtles in the marine sanctuary that has become a model for protected area management. In the tourist town of Moalboal in Cebu, Cousteau got a glimpse of the sardine shoal that provides livelihood for fishers. She was treated to dance numbers showing the fragility of the oceans by young pupils, whom she exhorted to be vigilant in conserving their resources to ensure food security in the future.

Speaking before students at the Silliman University in Dumaguete and at the University of Cebu, she focused on the role of the oceans for human survival. “The ocean is part of our lives. It gives us food, transportation, oxygen – all critical reasons to save it,” she stressed.

Phl marine sites ... Continued from page 1

Protect Benham ... Continued from page 1

11

Geographic Emerging Explorer for her work in oceans conservation.

Dr. Cesar Villanoy, of the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), who led the expedition, said their studies in the past two decades have shown that the seas in Benham Rise are controlled by currents coming from the south, resulting in warmer waters and less chlorophyll that are associated with marginal fisheries.

Symbol of science breakthroughsDr. Hildie Maria Nacorda, of the

University of the Philippines in Los Baños-School of Environmental Science and Management (UPLB-SESAM), thanked Cousteau for gracing the occasion, saying: “We feel that you symbolize breakthroughs in science and management for the new generation.”

In a video presentation, the expedition participants from UPLB reported that aside from the pristine reefscapes earlier documented, they found sandy seafloor habitats teeming with a variety of marine life.

The number of reef fish species recorded in May 2016 had also tripled from their observations during the first exploratory cruise in 2014.

Both trips were funded by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).

“We are happy to note that DOST-PCAARRD is investing and will continue

to invest in the discovery of diverse life and of marine genetic resources in our new territory,” Nacorda said.

She noted that a group of experts is interested in discovering the potential natural products from the arborescent sponges found in Benham Bank, which have not been studied before.

Students are also beginning to study the relationship of life forms on the offshore mesophotic coral ecosystem with those found in shallow reefs, Nacorda added.

Continued partnership, collaborationDr. Mari-Ann Acedera, of PCAARRD,

stressed the need for various sectors to come together, such as technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy, who assisted in collecting specimens from the deep sea reefs.

“For a huge asset like the Benham Rise region, partnership and collaboration is indeed one modality in achieving the present goal of understanding our shared living resources,” Acedera said on behalf of PCAARRD executive director Reynaldo Ebora.

Dr. Alma Dickson — representing

agriculture undersecretary for fisheries and national director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Eduardo Gongona— said Benham Bank can serve as a refuge and nursery for many economically-important fish. The agency provided the research vessel M/V DA-BFAR in the second, as well as in the first, Benham Bank technical expedition.

“We must intensify our collaborative efforts and strengthen our partnership to assess the entire potential of the Benham Rise region. We must, as fellow protectors of the world’s oceans, explore and manage Benham Rise together,” said Dickson when she presented the past and current initiatives of DA-BFAR in the Benham Rise region.

Oceana shares images of pristine heritage“We have good reason to be excited as we

share with our people, including key decision makers, images of a very special pristine unique global heritage,” said Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana Philippines.

“The Philippines has not been spared the same kind of degradation that has happened all over the world. I’m excited for all of us to come together, and find ways to protect the ocean because it is a treasure,” Cousteau said. (Oceana)

Cousteau showed a film of her grandfather that showed how marine resources are fast disappearing due to overexploitation and destructive fishing.

“What brings us together is the opportunity to restore abundance and diversity in the oceans,” she said.

“It is not just about sea turtles, dolphins and the whales and corals, but it’s also about restoring resources that support people especially the poorest of the poor. There’s an opportunity to protect communities from typhoons and in creating livelihood for sustainability and tourism,” Alexandra added.

In Manila, she met with Vice President Leni Robredo, and legislators including Senators Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Miguel Zubiri, and Juan Edgardo Angara, as well as Rep. Pia Cayetano.

They expressed interest in Oceana’s campaigns as embodied in the slogan “Save the oceans, Feed the world” and vowed to help craft programs and laws that would

promote wise use of marine resources.Cousteau had a meeting with Environment

Secretary Regina Lopez, who promised not to grant any permits that would destroy the deep-sea reefs in Benham Rise and the coastal and marine habitats.

Cousteau also met with Drusila Esther Bayate, assistant director for technical services of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, a vital partner of Oceana and fishing communities in law enforcement efforts.

“We are extremely honored to host Alexandra on her first visit to our country,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana in the Philippines.

“She has tremendosuly helped in highlighting our overarching goal to restore fisheries abundance in the country, increasing citizen awareness on the compelling need to act and protect our oceans and in securing commitments from key decision makers,” Ramos added.

Alexandra Cousteau capped her 12-day visit on September 10, 2016, when she joined a panel at the

‘Kapihan sa Isla’ media forum on the successful second Benham Bank technical expedition.

Oceana

Meet Oceana’s frontliners

Photo by Ferdz DecenaPhoto by Danny Ocampo

seascape between Cebu and Negros.“We should continue to forge

partnerships and fortify our joint protection and rehabilitation efforts in Tañon Strait, and that law enforcement should continue and sustained in some areas,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Ocean Philippines, during a ‘Consultation on the Effective Management on Tañon Strait as a Common Fishing Ground,’ in Cebu City, on September 14 to 17, 2016.

“All our efforts should result to revive Tañon as a rich fishing ground for the benefit of small fishers and their families, and free them from the clutches of poverty,” added Ramos.

Attended by more 100 participants from several cities and municipalities in southwestern Cebu and eastern Negros, the four-day event was held to put ‘flesh and muscle’ and strengthen the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) General Management Plan (GMP). It was organized by the National Anti-Poverty Commission through its Artisanal Fisherfolk Sectoral Council, in cooperation with Tambuyog Development Center and Protected Area Office of TSPS-PAMB.

Oceana Philippines was invited to share its initiatives in Tañon Strait, in partnership with the concerned agencies like the DENR and BFAR, LGUs, other CSOs, academe, and fishers’ groups. Atty. Ramos led a three-person Oceana team composed of Christine Dar Sicada and Raphaelle Ortiz at the consultation.

During the consultation, Atty. Ramos discussed the salient features of the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act of 1992, other related fishery laws, and the results of a socio-economic survey conducted by Oceana in 2015 that showed the adverse effects of illegal, destructive and commercial fishing, pollution and climate change on the fish catch and livelihood of small fishers and their families in Tañon Strait.

A representative from the BFAR national office shared with the participants the major provisions of the Fisheries Code (RA 8550) as amended by RA 10654, while Tambuyog discussed the country’s poverty situation, and major challenges and needs of the fisherfolk sector.

During the meeting, some participants suggested putting up guard towers to help monitor fishing activities along their respective coasts. Others commended the Fish Forever program, of Rare Philippines, that empowers LGUs and fisherfolk groups to protect, rehabilitate and conserve their respective marine key biodiversity areas.

Representatives from government agencies also discussed their respective programs and strategies to reduce poverty among the fisherfolk sector.

Fishermen have remained the poorest of the poor, posting a poverty incidence of 39.2 percent in 2012, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Restore Tañon’s beauty ... from page 1

BFAR donates 2 boats to patrol Tañon Strait. On behalf of Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos,

Oceana’s Christine Dar Sicada (2nd

from left) and Candeze Mongaya (right), visited the Bureau of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Training and Construction

Facility (FRPTCF) in Navotas, Metro Manila, upon the invitation of BFAR consultant Alma

Dickson (middle) to inspect the two 30-foot patrol boats that BFAR will donate to the Tañon Strait

Protected Seascape (TSPS) Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) through Oceana. Joining

them are BFAR FRPTCF chief Pierre Easter Velasco (2nd

from right), Jonathan Dickson (left), and

Oceana media consultant Noel Reyes. The boats will be fitted with two 16-HP engines (above right).

Oceana

Oceana

This newsletter is published by Oceana Philippines, P.O. Box 255, UP Post Office University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101.

Editorial AdviserAtty. Gloria Estenzo RamosVice President, Oceana PhilippinesE-mail: gramos@oceana.org EditorNoel O. Reyes Editorial AssistantsCandeze MongayaCommunications Associate

Marianne Pan-SanianoMarine Scientist

Christine Dar-SicadaAssistant to the Vice-President

Design & LayoutVA Room

Oceana Philippines Officers

Daniel OcampoCampaigns Director

Jimely FloresSenior Marine Scientist

Atty. Roger Joseph GuzmanLegal & Policy Officer

Oceana is the largest international non-government organization focused on ocean conservation, with offices in North, South and Central America, Europe and Asia and more than 600,000 followers all over the world. For further information, please visit www.oceana.org.

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