04 Oct 2007 - Manila,
the Philippines – Reef fish and other marine
species can breathe easier with the introduction
of a fishing ban around Apo Reef, the largest
coral reef in the Philippines and the second
largest contiguous reef in the world after
the Great Barrier Reef.
Under the ban, all extractive activities,
such as fishing, and coral collection and
harvesting, will be completely forbidden.
“This ‘no-take’ zone will allow the reef
and its residents ample time to recover
from years of fishing,” stressed John Manul
of WWF-Philippines.
The 27,469-hectare Apo Reef off the coast
of Mindoro Island is surrounded by mangrove
forest, which serves as a source of food,
nursery and spawning ground of several coastal
fish and marine species, including sharks,
manta rays, sperm whales and several sea
turtles.
In 1996, the reef was declared a national
park, but enforcement proved lax and illegal
fishing methods persisted.
The park was once one of the world’s premier
diving destinations, but years of fishing
— including by unsustainable fishing practices
such as using dynamite and cyanide — took
its toll.
“You would hear 25 to 30 dynamite blasts
daily,” said Robert Duquil, a former protected
area assistant superintendent. “The international
diving community lost interest in the area
and destructive activities prevailed.”
Adding to the reef’s troubles, the El Niño
phenomenon in 1998 raised ocean temperatures,
prompting a massive bleaching episode and
the death of countless corals, and an explosion
of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish.
“Unfortunately, Apo is plagued by millions
of these starfish, probably due to a lack
of natural predators like the giant triton,
napoleon wrasse and harlequin shrimp,” said
Gregg Yan of WWF-Philippines. “We hope that
the ban will ensure protection of these
predators and the many other reef species.”
WWF has been working towards sustainable
coastal practices for the Apo Reef Natural
Park since 2003. The marine park will be
opened for tourists to help generate funds
for its protection, as well as provide an
alternative livelihood for hundreds of fishermen
in the area.
John Manul, Sablayan Project Manager
WWF-Philippines
Gregg Yan, Communications Officer
WWF-Philippines
+ More
Protecting cod and coral off eastern Canada
01 Oct 2007 - Halifax, Canada – Decisions
made at a meeting of the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization will help cod recover
and protect vulnerable cold-water corals
off the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland
and Labrador.
WWF is encouraged by the move at NAFO's
annual meeting in Lisbon to commit to protecting
marine ecosystems and adopting precautionary
approaches. This commitment was accepted
by a consensus of parties of NAFO in their
newly revised convention.
"For some time NAFO has been talking
about protecting habitats and recovering
depleted stocks,” said Dr Robert Rangeley,
WWF-Canada's Vice President for the Atlantic.
“Today, NAFO has begun to move from words
to action by committing to conservation
measures that, when implemented, will make
a real difference on the water.”
This year, NAFO countries committed to
a southern Grand Banks cod recovery strategy,
which includes an immediate bycatch reduction
target of 40%. Bycatch, the unintended harvesting
of non-targeted species, is the single most
important factor in the continued decline
of cod stocks. Current cod stocks are roughly
6% of their historical abundance.
In addition, NAFO has committed to an immediate
ban of all bottom-fishing activities on
the southwest slope of the Grand Banks in
depths between 800m and 2000m. This closure
captures part of a coral hotspot identified
in WWF-Canada’s coral bycatch report — authored
by scientists at Memorial University of
Newfoundland — which was released earlier
this month. This is an initial step in a
process that will see NAFO identify vulnerable
habitats such as those containing corals
over the next year and develop measures
for their protection.
“We are very encouraged with the measures
undertaken this week as they have met most
of our pre-meeting conservation expectations,”
continued Rangeley.
“Canada, in particular, should be noted
for its leadership in proposing measures
to protect both cod and coral and working
to see them adopted. These are critically
important steps that will take hard work
and goodwill in order to succeed. We look
forward to working with NAFO and all its
contracting countries in the future to continue
to restore the Grand Banks ecosystem, so
that those nations and individuals that
have relied on its resources can continue
to do so in the future.”
It is anticipated that additional measures
will be implemented at next year's annual
meeting, held next September in Spain.
END NOTES:
• The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
(NAFO) is an intergovernmental organization
with a mandate to provide scientific advice
and management of fisheries in the northwestern
part of the Atlantic Ocean. It regulates
eleven fish species (20 stocks) and a fishing
ban (moratorium) is in place for nine fish
stocks belonging to four species (cod, American
plaice, witch flounder, and capelin).
• Current member states include: Bulgaria;
Canada; Cuba; Denmark (in respect of Faroe
Islands and Greenland); the European Union;
Fance (i respect of Saint Pierre and Miquelon);
Iceland; Japan; South Korea; Norway; Russia;
Ukraine; and the US.
Kyle Ferguson, Communications Manager
WWF-Canada
