From ripples to waves: Protecting our marine biodiversity heritage through synergies

Leading up to September as the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Month (MANA Mo) pursuant to Proclamation 316, series of 2017, and World Maritime Day on the 26th, the immense value of the manifold marine biodiversity in our territorial sea of 679,800 square kilometers comes to the fore.

With the Philippines, particularly the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor being referred to as the center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity, it is the 11th largest producer of fish and fish products globally. Marine resources are also key to the country’s food security: if kanin (rice) is life, then fish and fish products certainly make Filipinos’ lives sweeter and more robust for being the highest source of animal protein meat.

Moreover, according to the DOST, the Philippines’ coral reef area which spans 26,000 square kilometers – the second largest in Southeast Asia – is home to over 500 coral species, several of which are endemic.

Its coastal and marine ecosystems are vital to migratory species that are not limited to sea life such as whales, sharks, turtles, and dolphins but also include waterbirds that rely on the ecological connectivity of these habitats for breeding and nesting, as they traverse across the Russian Far East and Alaska, East Asia and Southeast Asia, to Australia and New Zealand. 

The Stratbase ADR Institute hosted a forum titled "Coral Reefs & Currents: Prioritizing Marine Conservation in the West Philippine Sea" on Aug. 27, 2024, at the Asian Institute of Management.

The event emphasized a comprehensive approach to marine biodiversity conservation. Dr. Dexter dela Cruz from Southern Cross University, Australia, discussed innovations in coral breeding to "future-ready" reefs against threats like destructive fishing and coral bleaching.

Ms. Lea Avilla of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) outlined government strategies for marine resource protection, highlighting the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program and noting that 1.42% of the Philippines' sea area is now designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez of the UP Marine Science Institute detailed a multi-stakeholder coral reef restoration