Oceana is looking for Tañon Strait heroes

As the country celebrates National Heroes Day, Oceana Philippines is calling on the public to nominate deserving individuals working for the conservation of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) for the first Ocean Heroes Award in 2016.

Tañon Strait is the largest marine protected area in the country. Located between the islands of Negros and Cebu, it is an important habitat for dolphins and vital source of fisheries resources for surrounding communities.

Although it was declared a protected area in 1998, several management challenges have hindered its effective management and conservation. These include the use of destructive fishing gear, illegal commercial fishing, pollution from various sources, and unregulated dump-and-fill projects that have resulted in a negative impact on ecosystems.

In February this year, the TSPS Protected Area Management Board – composed of representatives from more than 40 cities and municipalities and nearly 300 barangays – was convened. It approved the management plan which will pave the way for stronger enforcement of laws against destructive activities in the protected area.

“We are looking for heroes that inspire us and have shown that we can be agents of change to protect and conserve the beauty and bounty of Tañon Strait,” said Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana Philippines.

The Ocean Heroes Award, organised by Oceana and the DENR and BFAR in Region 7, will recognise exemplary individuals in Tañon Strait who have worked and contributed to the protection and sustainability of Tañon Strait. Nomination forms and contest mechanics are available at www.tanonstrait.org

Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Since 2001, it has protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America, Europe and Asia and more than 600,000 followers all over the world.

Press release from Oceana Philippines