Simple tips on being responsible while enjoying the beach this summer

CEBU, Philippines - By now, most students have already shifted from study to summer mood, which means fun, beach, and lots of sun, never mind the ultraviolet rays lurking with the blazing heat of the sun.

With the issue on climate change, global warming, and with a lower carbon footprint being the most responsible thing to do these days, it is imperative that considering our impact on our environment this summer should be a vital factor in deciding what activities to engage in.

When it comes to having fun in the beach, environmentalist and coastal biodiversity advocate Evelyn Torrequemada-Deguit said that taking care of our coastal areas should be foremost in every responsible beach-goer's mind.

"The Philippine coastal area is a life giving resource. Our coastline stretches to more than 18,000 kilometers, which encompasses more than 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, which serves as nursery for many marine species," she said.

She added that being the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world, "Our coral reefs, mangrove areas and open water fisheries offer potential high economic revenues if properly managed."

She explained that one of the problems causing the destruction of coastal biodiversity is "unregulated coastal development activities" that would include tourism and residential infrastructure infringing on the shoreline areas and draining untreated liquid waste into the sea.

She also said that garbage thrown anywhere, which would eventually end up in the sea, is a chronic problem that should also be addressed, together with the cutting of mangroves for firewood and development activities (aka reclamation), illegal fishing activities, illegal gathering and trade of endangered marine species, destructive gleaning (panginhas) practices, and over-fishing including intrusion of commercial fishers into municipal waters.

Although, these destructive practices may seem to be too huge to be stopped, Deguit, however, said that beach goers and summer aficionados can do something to help minimize the effect that summer usually would have on our coastal areas and the marine ecosystem.

• "Don't throw your garbage anywhere, it will eventually end up in the sea," said Deguit. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It's the garbage continent down in the Pacific Ocean, and scientists estimate its size to be twice that of the State of Texas, which is around 670,000 km2. With the Philippines at 300,000 km2, that would make the Garbage Continent to be four times the size of the Philippines! These garbage don't just float there, they are a source of marine pollutants not to mention the fact that they are one of the major causes of death for many marine birds and animals. So, the next time you encounter a garbage dilemma, pocket it until you find a suiting place to dispose of it.

• Report any destructive activities in the shoreline and coastal waters e.g. illegal fishing, coral gathering, liquid waste dumping, etc. Since the beaches would be filled with revelers, it is easy for these beach fun seekers to observe such illegal activities as dynamite fishing and even commercial fishing in municipal waters. Be a friend to the sea and inform the authorities once these destructive activities are observed.

• Join coastal clean-up activities and information campaigns to conserve our coastal areas and marine resources. It's fun and very easy to do. This would also be an opportunity for you to meet new friends.

• Plant mangroves and see to it that those you planted grow into maturity. The problem with tree planting activities, including mangrove planting, is sustainability. What happens after your tree planting activity? You go home and never return to make sure that the trees you planted would actually live. Unknown to many of us, the trees planted during tree planting activities also needs to be nurtured. They don't just grow on their own. They need to be watered, fenced off to discourage intrusion by animals, and tended to, to ensure that they reach maturity.

• Do not collect anything live (shells, sea grasses, starfish, corals) from the sea. They are for seeing and not for taking. They may be cute, they may be beautiful to look at, but admit it, the moment you reach your home, the starfish or the shells you gathered from the shore would end up in your garbage bin. Worse, because starfish is a living breathing creature, out from the sea they would die, causing some nasty smell in your home. So do yourself a favor and be humane towards these innocent creatures. Leave them be.

• When swimming on the reef, do not step on the corals to avoid breaking them. It takes years for a coral reef to form and become a viable ecosystem. Corals would grow at a rate of 0.2 to 8 inches in a year! So imagine how long it took for a coral reef to form. And if we destroy the existing coral reefs that we have, where would the fishes breed? Together with the destruction of our corals would be the disappearance of fishes in our seas, and the loss of income of thousands of Filipinos whose livelihood depends on fishing.

• Don't build any permanent structures (house, restaurant, resort, etc.) in the foreshore areas, or at least help discourage business establishments, government, and individuals from utilizing the shore to expand development. Speak your mind and do something to stop people from building fences by the beach, reclaiming coastal areas (in the guise of development), and expanding structures even up to the waters. Imagine where they'd dump their waste.

Evelyn Torrequemada-Deguit has been working on the coastal resource management project for 15 years. She helped mainstream coastal resource management into the regular program of governance of the different municipalities in Camiguin, as well as in promoting and encouraging coastal barangays to declare portions of their coastal waters as marine protected areas.