Masbate Illegal Fishers Turn Wardens of the Sea

A six-year fishing ban has done wonders for the 129-hectare Colorada Point Marine Protected Area in Aroroy town in the province of Masbate, Philippines, as corals are thriving and the fish are back with sea turtles, lobsters, giant clams and other creatures.

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Published on 01/06/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Environment, Fauna and flora, People
Tags: Masbate, Point, coral, fish, fishing, gold, marine, mining, reefs

The Philippines Liveaboard Diving

With an abundant ecosystem, a variety of about 2000 species of fish, and 7,107 islands, liveaboard diving in the Philippines remains at the top of any diver’s bucket list. If it’s not added yet, perhaps it’s time to consider adding it as another liveaboard adventure destination to visit! Apart from the year-round warm climate, pristine beaches, and crystal blue waters, it offers a variety of dive sites that span from exploring historic wrecks to marveling at corals and marine life!

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Published on 19/04/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Entertainment, Environment, Fauna and flora, Recreation, Travel
Tags: Bohol, Island, Malapascua, Philippines, Tubbataha, coral, diving, fish, marine, reefs

Mindoro Oil Spill Victims Reach 19,000

Oriental Mindoro residents affected by the oil spill from the tanker Princess Empress have risen to 19,000. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin on March 15 a cash-for-work program, in addition to the food relief that is already being distributed, to help affected residents and pump-prime the local economy.

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Published on 12/03/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Communities, Environment, Health
Tags: Mindoro, Program, coral, coral reefs, fishermen, marine, reefs, residents

Mindoro Oil Spill Endangers Diverse Marine Ecosystem, Peoples’ Lives

Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino has raised alarm over the recent maritime incident which threatened to affect the ecosystem of the country. “While we are seeking accountability, our efforts in the meantime should be focused on the containment of the oil spill to prevent it from causing further irreversible damage to our marine ecosystem. Next should be the recover. He was referring to MT Princess Empress. It carried 800,000 liters industrial fuel oil.

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Published on 07/03/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Communities, Environment, News and Events
Tags: Island, Mindoro, Princess, coral, coral reefs, fishermen, marine, reefs

36,000 Hectares of Coral Reefs, Mangroves Possibly Affected by Mindoro Oil Spill

Experts from the University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) estimate that tens of thousands of hectares worth of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass have been affected by the oil spill due to the recent sinking of MT Prince Empress.

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Published on 05/03/2023 by puertoparrot
Categories: Environment, Fauna and flora, Politics
Tags: DENR, Mindoro, coral, coral reefs, marine, reefs

'Monumental Eco-disaster'

Residents of Dumaguete City are up in arms over a massive offshore reclamation project being spearheaded by their local government. Voting 6-3, the Dumaguete City council last week approved a motion authorizing Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo to forge a joint venture agreement with Quezon City-based construction company E.M. Cuerpo Inc. on the proposed P23-billion Dumaguete Smart City Reclamation Project, which aims to add 174 hectares of reclaimed land to the current city coastline.

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Published on 22/07/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Business, Environment, Fauna and flora, Politics
Tags: Dumaguete, Project, marine

With Growing Pressures, Can the Philippines Sustain Its Marine Reserves?

In the town of Pilar in the central Philippines, a community of 11,308 residents looks after one of the most successful marine protected areas in the country: the Pilar Municipal Marine Park (PMMP). Established in 2005, the 179-hectare (443-acre) park stands out among the thousands of MPAs in the Philippines, which experts say are only protected on paper.

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Published on 04/07/2021 by puertoparrot
Categories: Communities, Environment, Travel
Tags: Island, System, community, coral, country, fish, fishing, government, marine

Philippines 'twilight Zone' Reefs Reveal New Species

The so called Twilight Zone - between 60 & 150 metres - is one of the least explored areas of the ocean. A recent research trip by the California Academy of Sciences to the Philippines reveals its unique reef systems are home to many as yet undiscovered species - and sadly pollution too.

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Published on 21/08/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Documentary, Fauna and flora
Tags: coral, marine, reefs, research, science

The 21 Most Beautiful Islands in the Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, two of which have repeatedly been dubbed the “Best Island in the World”. It’s no secret that it’s a country with a surplus of naturally rich and culturally diverse islands. But out of the thousands, which exactly are the ones that shouldn’t be missed?

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Published on 21/08/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Travel
Tags: Boracay, Camarines, Camiguin, Nature, Palawan, marine

Happy Beneath the Sea

Robert “Bobbit” Suntay is a marine conservationist. In his roles as educator, scuba diver, and underwater videographer, he cannot emphasize enough the importance of protecting the underwater world, especially because the oceans comprise about 96.5 percent of the earth’s water.

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Published on 03/05/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: People
Tags: Educator, marine, scuba diver

The Marine Sanctuary of Apo Island: Philippines’ Man Made Ecological Paradise

The Philippines’ ecological nature is truly blessed by God. Well, it is simply because of the inherent beauty and wonders of one of the country’s finest tourist attraction, dubbed as Apo Island. This one of a kind and truly mesmerizing archipelago is inherently a volcanic island, which is actually 12 hectares with respect to its total land area.

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Published on 20/03/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Documentary, Environment, Fauna and flora
Tags: Apo Island, Eco-Tourism, Paradise, Sanctuary, marine

The Marine Sanctuary and Tourism of Apo Island

Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 12 hectares of land area. The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve protected by the National Integrated Protected Area Act (NIPA) and under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). It has become a popular dive site and snorkeling destination with tourists. There are two resorts on Apo Island, both of which have their own dive centers: Apo Island Beach Resort and Liberty's Lodge.

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Published on 10/03/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Documentary, Travel
Tags: Apo Island, Sanctuary, Tourism, marine

Juag Lagoon Marine Sanctuary: Sorsogon Beyond the Whale Sharks

Mention Sorsogon to most tourists – foreign or local – and the first thing that comes to their minds is interacting with the whale sharks in Donsol. Hard to blame them. The whale shark interaction is after all a worldwide phenomenon featured as the Best Animal Encounter in Asia by Time Magazine in 2004. But we were in Sorsogon on this sunny April primarily to see Bulusan Lake and the pinkish-white sand of Subic Beach and Tikling Island.

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Published on 07/03/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Documentary, Fauna and flora, Travel
Tags: Lagoon, Sanctuary, marine

Sardines Uncanned - Swimming with Moalboal's Millions

Swoosh...swoosh! Swishing and swarming around us is an endless wave of sardines, moving as one to avoid circling predators like tuna and mackerel. I’m with underwater photographer Danny Ocampo and we’re diving in Moalboal, known for its ‘sardine run’ – where millions of sardines aggregate just meters from shore.

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Published on 03/03/2018 by puertoparrot
Categories: Fauna and flora, Stories
Tags: Eco-Tourism, Moalboal, marine, sardines

Vital Reef Ecosystems Biggest Losers in South China Sea Dispute

The ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea is as much an ecological crisis as it is a geopolitical one. Dredging, land reclamation and the construction of artificial islands is likely swamping centuries old reefs in sediment, endangering ecosystems that play a key role in maintaining fish stocks throughout the region. According to leading marine biologist Professor John McManus, a proper understanding of the marine ecosystem and its role in food security is key to finding a solution.

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Published on 25/05/2017 by puertoparrot
Categories: Documentary, Environment
Tags: China, Eco-Tourism, South, marine, sea