UP MSI Launches the West Philippine Sea State of the Coasts Report
FEATURED PHOTO: The contributing authors for the West Philippine Sea State of the Coasts Report, together with representatives from partner agencies, organizations, and LGUs. Photos courtesy of USAID Fish Right.
Quezon City, Philippines – The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) today launched the landmark West Philippine Sea-State of the Coasts Report.
Government officials led by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Augusto D. de la Peña, Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST PCARRD) Director of Marine Resources Research Dr. Mari Ann Acedera, Department of Foreign Affairs – Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (DFA-MANAMo) Director for Ocean Governance, Shipping, and Seafaring Division Atty. Joel M. Peralta, Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Chief of Fisheries Management Mr. Roy Ortega, representative of Secretary Andres Centino of the Presidential Office for Maritime Affairs (formerly the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat) Captain Armin Angeles, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela, and University of the Philippines Cebu Chancellor Atty. Leo Malagar attended the launch.
The WPS-State of the Coasts report highlights the ecological, economic, and social importance of the West Philippine Sea, a priority conservation area within the Coral Triangle, considered as the “Amazon of the sea.” However, this vital seascape is facing increasing threats from natural and human-induced hazards, necessitating a dedicated State of the Coast report.
The WPS-State of the Coasts publication consolidated government-funded research on the WPS marine and fishery resources, including those conducted by the UP MSI.
As one of their priority actions for convergence, the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and DA-BFAR wanted to produce a book to feature locally-generated materials on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). USAID, in partnership with the University of Rhode Island through the Fish Right Program, supported the development of the report for education, public policy, and action.
The report was consolidated by fisheries expert Hazel Arceo who has previously led reef fish and fisheries studies in the West Philippine Sea and features 13 articles on the seascape’s coral reefs, fisheries, and various aspects of coastal resource management initiatives. It hopes to catalyze a regular and comprehensive reporting system for the wider Southeast Asian region, and encourage more regular publication of a national State of the Coast report.
“We must continue doing science in the West Philippine Sea. To make better decisions for protecting our biodiversity, fisheries, and marine resources now, we need more than what we learned in the 1990s. We need more informed and updated science: it is our first step in ensuring biodiversity and food security for the next generations of Filipinos,” Fernando P. Siringan, UP MSI marine and coastal geology expert, said in his keynote talk during the event.
USAID Mission Director Betty Chung, emphasized the urgent need for collaborative efforts towards the sustainable management of the region’s marine resources.
“Our support for this vital publication is part of our focus on working with universities and civil society organizations to advance a collaborative, science-based, and inclusive management approach in the country’s fisheries management areas. This is an example of a scientific cooperation that is critical for bridging geopolitical differences, and building communication and understanding among nations,” Chung said.
The State of the Coasts report initiative started in 2003 when the UP MSI published the Philippine Coral Reef Atlas, a pivotal resource that led to the development of a reporting system facilitating reef data access which generated a series of publications, notably the Philippine Reefs through Time and State of the Coasts reports. These reports revealed increasing resource use and declining productivity, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and a shift to integrated resource management.
Read the WPS-State of the Coasts: The West Philippine Sea – State of the Coasts Report | Digital Copy
Watch the WPS-State of the Coasts launch: WPS-State of the Coasts FB Livestream