Greenpeace to help ‘reef check’ at Apo marine sanctuary

Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is home to one of the country’s oldest community-managed marine reserves. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Joel Gene Brinas

MANILA, Philippines — Esperanza, the largest ship of Greenpeace, arrived Tuesday at Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, home to one of the country’s oldest community-managed marine reserves, to mark the start of a three-week visit aimed at galvanizing action to save the Philippine seas.

The ship is on the Philippine leg of Greenpeace’s “Ocean Defender Tour of Southeast Asia 2013,” which seeks to “tell the story of the richness and the beauty of the Philippine seas, expose destruction that causes marine degradation and sound the alarm to call for urgent government action to save the Philippine seas from crisis.”

“’Esperanza’ means ‘hope in Spanish. This tour is also a message that there is hope for our seas,” said Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Oceans Campaigner.

“We need to protect the oceans from stressors such as overfishing, pollution and destruction, and ensure that they are resilient to the effects of climate change,” he said in a news release.

Greenpeace will assist in the ongoing “reef check” on the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, one of the country’s oldest protected marine reserves under the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape. The island is located off the southeastern tip of Negros Oriental province

In the next few days Esperanza will anchor a few kilometers away from the island to join scientists and experts from Silliman University and Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation in assessing the extent of damage on the sanctuary by typhoons Sendong in 2011 and Pablo in 2012.

“Apo Island Marine Sanctuary has always been a model of hope that shows how oceans can be restored when they are successfully protected,” Cinchez said.

“But the sanctuary, just like the rest of the Philippines’ seas, is in crisis. The Esperanza is here to call on all sectors, government, private, NGOs and individuals, to work together to restore the health and productivity our country’s oceans,” he said.

Neil Credo, mayor of the municipality of Dauin to which Apo Island belongs, welcomed the ship and the crew. “We are glad that we are one of your chosen destinations in the country in your mission is to revive marine treasures,” the news release reported Credo as saying.

“Dauin is known to have successfully implemented the coastal resource management program, and behind this is every Dauinanons’ support to preserve and conserve marine resources. Rest assured that we will always be with you in achieving your mission,” he said.

On July 12, Esperanza will dock at the Dumaguete port for public activities aimed at raising public awareness on how Filipinos can all help in defending the seas. The next day, the ship will be open to the public for tours, Greenpeace said.

The ship will also be visiting Bicol and Manila to work with scientists, coastal communities and church groups to discuss ways to revive oceans and fisheries, the group said.

This is Esperanza’s third visit to the Philippines. Esperanza was in the country in December 2012 to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other aid organizations in delivering relief goods to Mindanao immediately after Typhoon Pablo.

In 2006, Esperanza and its crew assisted the Philippine Coast Guard in mitigating the oil spill in Guimaras Island.

Greenpeace has been sounding the alarm on the need to protect the country’s seas.

Last month, Greenpeace launched a report titled “Oceans in the Balance” detailing how the seas were suffering from twin pressures of overfishing and the destruction of marine ecosystems.

“Being an achipelago, our country is heavily reliant on our seas,” said Cinches. “Our seas are our future. Strong government action is needed, as well as support from all sectors,” he said.