Govs want Visayan Sea declared as protected area

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Four governors of the Visayas have asked President Aquino to declare the Visayan Sea as a protected area.

The declaration will prohibit commercial fishing in the Visayan Sea Triangle, the governors said in a resolution signed during the 6th Visayan Sea Summit in Sagay City, Negros Occidental last Friday.

The resolution aims to declare as protected area the waters beyond the 15-kilometer radius of the municipalities and cities surrounding the Visayan Sea.

It was signed by Governors Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental, Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete of Masbate and Hilario Davide III of Cebu, who was represented by Ricardo Lachica. 

The meeting was attended by mayors of 23 towns and cities and congressmen, whose areas are facing the Visayan Sea. It was also attended by officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police, among others.

The Visayan Sea is a known sanctuary of 488 of 500 endangered coral species, and 12,000 species of seashells in the country.

Environmentalists consider it as one of richest marine diversities in the world.

The area covers the territorial waters of northern Cebu, northeastern Iloilo, northern Negros, and southern Masbate.

Defensor said the resolution would be submitted for approval to the Office of the President. He said the move aims to protect small fishermen as no commercial vessels would be allowed in the area.              

Marañon said commercial fishing boats are a big problem. He challenged the BFAR to come up with a policy protecting the Visayan Sea, which covers four provinces and three regions.

The governors said that if the people could properly manage the Visayan Sea, the country and the neighboring Asian countries could benefit from its resources.

The resolution said there is a need to expand the conservation area for the Visayan Sea to widen the breeding area of marine life.

It said the signatories are against commercial fishing not only within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, but beyond the territorial jurisdiction of LGUs surrounding the Visayan Sea.

“We’re asking the national government agencies to not only take the lead but to pledge their support by providing personnel, funds and make this as a priority of their respective agencies or departments,” it said.