15 August
2006 - Manila, Philippines — Scientists recognise
the Philippine archipelago as the world's centre
of marine biodiversity, but the country's rich
marine ecosystem is severely threatened by pollution
from diverse sources.
As part of the Defending Our
Ocean's expedition, the Esperanza arrived today
in Manila, capital of the Philippines. On this
leg, the ship's crew will campaign against plastics
pollution, draw attention to the damage being
done by an Australian mining company and highlight
successful community efforts to protect marine
resources.
Manila Bay
This bay was once considered
one of the most beautiful in the world, now it
is one of the most polluted. Sludge, human sewage,
industrial waste and, especially, plain garbage
foul the water. Much of the garbage is plastic
from 'single use' sources - that is plastic bags,
beverage bottles, cups and other items intended
to be used once and thrown away. Most of these
plastics come from land-based sources and are
carried along deltas of rivers and estuaries,
smothering mangrove trees and other marine life.
The Philippines also has some
of the best examples of communities protecting
their marine resources. We'll be visiting two
such places - Donsol and Apo Island.
Underwater beauty of
the Philippines
A serious-looking Hawksbill
turtle staring at the observer, two friendly shining-orange
clown fish swimming by, local fishermen bringing
out their traditional "sudsud" nets
in the evening dusk - the sea of the Philippines
is a paradise you just want to dive into. These
images urge us to protect this biodiversity for
future generations. Have a look, dream - and act!
Donsol
The plankton-rich waters of
the municipality of Donsol are known feeding grounds
for whale sharks. These largest fish of the sea
are celebrity animals. Time magazine in 2004 called
the Donsol whale shark experience the "Best
Animal Encounter in Asia". The thousands
of tourists who flock to Donsol yearly seem to
agree.
The epicentre of the whale sharks’
activity is undeniably Donsol. But come migration
time, the neighbouring municipalities of Bacon
and Rapu Rapu find themselves visited by these
gentle giants as well.
Apo Island
Known around the world as one
of the best examples of a community-managed marine
reserve, Apo Island is a small, steep volcanic
island surrounded by narrow fringing coral reefs.
The waters around it are home to 650 species of
fish and 400 species of corals.
There was a time, however, when
the fish were not so abundant. Decades ago the
islanders used dynamite for fishing, and practised
other unsustainable methods. Eking out a living
as a fisherman became more and more difficult.
Coral reef protection in Apo
Island began informally in 1982 under a Marine
Conservation Development Program started by Silliman
University in the Philippines. At first the local
community was sceptical, so the project began
on a small scale. As fish catches improved the
islanders became convinced.
In 1985, the island community
and local council formalized the sanctuary, declaring
waters surrounding the island up to 500 metres
from the shore a marine reserve, and a portion
of the coast in the south-eastern part of the
island a no-take fish sanctuary.
The community now plays a major
role in protecting their marine resources in a
model we hope will spread to other parts of the
Philippines and the world.
Rapu Rapu
The island of Rapu Rapu is in
many ways similar to Donsol and Apo Island. Rapu
Rapu's surrounding waters also teem with marine
life. Its locals also depend on the sea for their
livelihood. But there is an important and looming
difference. Rapu Rapu has a large open pit mine
- run by Australian company Lafayette. This mine
was temporarily closed after two toxic spills
last year, but recently re-opened despite the
recommendation of a presidential fact finding
commission.
Reynaldo Cotorno, a Rapu Rapu
fisherman who had waded out to fish on October
11th recounted what happened when the first spill
reached the ocean. As he put it, "I was wearing
trousers at the time. The seawater stung as if
there were insects, but that was not it. Perhaps
it was the chemicals that caused the fish to die.
There were really a lot of dead fish, big and
small ones together with shellfish."
As the presidential commission
determined, another such spill is not necessary
to demonstrate that mining operations will be
severely detrimental to Rapu Rapu, and its surrounding
waters. Initial ecological and health studies
on the Rapu-Rapu mine warned of heavy metal contamination,
siltation and other acute and long-term impacts
on the marine ecosystem, including the complications
of acid mine drainage.
In May, a Greenpeace report
revealed that Rapu Rapu residents only stand to
gain about US$0.04 (PhP2.00) per capita income
per day during the mine's seven-year of operation.
This amount does not even look into the environmental,
health and social costs that the local population
will incur from the project.
Islanders know that the fate
of their community is linked to the health of
the ocean. Thinking of his children, fisherman
Cotorno said, "In short, I am against the
mine because I am thinking of the future."
