Local government units (LGUs) should come up with city and municipal ordinances that would strengthen efforts at
protecting the coral reefs of Davao Gulf.
This was the appeal of Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) head Grace Bacaltos, who said the coral reefs are dying because of global warming.
“The increase in the temperature in the ocean has caused the death of algae living in corals, causing coral bleaching, a vivid sign of corals responding to stress, which may also result in the destruction or death of the corals,†Bacaltos said.
The Davao Gulf area currently has more than 40 marine protected areas, but Bacaltos said some of these areas are not seriously protected.
She said Davao City has already two ordinances that aim to protect the marine protected areas. These are the Fisheries Code and the Marine Protected Area Ordinance.
“But we need more efforts to implement these. Not only Davao City has to protect Davao Gulf. Fishermen from the islands of Samal, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental and even the neighboring provinces are using the resources of the Davao Gulf. So, we are appealing to our local government officials from the region to help us protect and develop our marine resources,†Bacaltos said.
A marine protected area has two zones, the core zone, where no fishing is allowed and the buffer zone, where only hook and line fishing is allowed.
Bacaltos said the protection of the coral reefs will greatly help fishermen since fish will have a safe place to breed and lay their eggs. - source: PNA
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