THREATENED. Fishers of Panaon Island in Southern Leyte in this undated photo. Illegal fishing remains a top concern among locals in the island, one of the sites proposed for inclusion in the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act. (Photo courtesy of Oceana Philippines)
TACLOBAN CITY – Illegal fishing remains a top concern among locals in Southern Leyte’s Panaon Island, which is being proposed for inclusion in Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act.
During a series of consultations between April and August facilitated by Oceana, an international marine conservation group, illegal fishing was identified by locals as a “significant stressor to marine biodiversity.”
Oceana said different forms of illegal fishing, particularly compressor fishing and night spearfishing, were identified as huge setbacks to marine conservation efforts, according to a statement issued Monday.
Such activities disrupt breeding cycles, deplete vulnerable populations and push endangered species closer to extinction, Oceana lamented.
Raul Cordova, village chief of Son-ok in Pintuyan town, disclosed to Oceana that night spearfishing and the use of compressors are major issues, especially because some fishers use poison.
“This causes significant damage to coral reefs and other marine life. If this situation continues, we fishermen in Panaon, will really struggle with our livelihood as we rely solely on the sea,” Cordova told Oceana.
This situation, according to the group, calls for the immediate passage of bills designating Panaon Island as a protected area under the ENIPAS law.
The declaration of Panaon Island as a protected seascape is one of the priorities for conservation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the 30x30 target, where at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are protected by the year 2030.
“Despite the progress made, such as the House of Representatives approving the bill on the third and final reading on Nov. 29, 2023 and being backed by Senator Cynthia Villar, there is an increasing need to emphasize its urgency due to the number of threats and problems to Panaon Island’s biodiversity” Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Estenzo Ramos said.
“The swift approval of these bills is crucial in the sustainable management and protection of these vital areas. This will embed stewardship and enhance governance, law enforcement, citizen participation, collaboration, and support from national agencies and local governments,” she added.
Currently, 11 protected area bills, including that of the Panaon Island Protected Seascape, are pending in the Senate.
Coral reefs under threat
The coral reefs of Panaon Island are part of the "50 Reefs" initiative, a global effort that identifies and prioritizes 50 critical reef sites that are most resilient to the impacts of climate change, underscoring its importance to marine conservation.
An expedition led by Oceana in 2021 found its coral reefs with up to 60 percent of very good coral cover, more than the national average of around 20 percent.
Additionally, the part of Panaon Island in Sogod Bay was identified as a Marine Key Biodiversity Area due to the presence of exceptional but endangered marine biodiversity such as whale sharks and sea turtles.
However, Typhoon Odette that battered the province in 2021 caused significant damage to these reefs, exacerbated by different forms of illegal fishing that continue to threaten their recovery and overall marine health.
Panaon is from the word "pana,” or spear, a traditional and sustainable way of catching fish.
It is a small island in Southern Leyte province, separated from Dinagat to the east and Mindanao to the southeast by the Surigao Strait.
Within the island are the towns of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo. (PNA)
