The good news is that endangered marine species like the pawikan (sea turtles) and whale sharks still inhabit the waters of Davao City. The apprehension is that these creatures do not stand a chance because of threats like illegal and destructive fishing, and their proximity to the city’s large, waste-generating population.

The City Council addressed the growing problem by approving an ordinance establishing three marine protected areas (MPAs) in the city’s coastal barangays. Guiding the ordinance through the third and final reading last week were Councilors Leonadro Avila III and Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling and the Davao City Coastal Resource Management Technical Working Group.

MPAs protect the marine resources and help the dwindling fish catch to replenish and eventually recover in the coming years. The MPA sites are in Bgy Centro Agdao, covering 21 hectares; Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya where the endangered turtles are nesting, 37 hectares; and Lasang-Bunawan, where whale sharks are regularly sighted, 415 hectares.

The areas have been declared "no-take-zones" where all fishing and related activities are prohibited, except for research and monitoring. With their breeding areas undisturbed, fishes and other marine resources can continue to flourish naturally. This would help preserve biodiversity in the Davao Gulf, and increase fish productivity that will improve the livelihood of fishermen in the city’s coastal communities.

“Protecting aquatic species will not only benefit our environment but will serve eco-tourism as well,” said environment committee chairman Leonardo Avila III. “The rare sea turtles can attract visitors to Davao and contribute to the local economy.”

Saving the sea turtles is a joint undertaking of the city government’s Task Force Pawikan and the Save Davao Gulf Foundation that received a small grant assistance from the USAID-funded Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) Project. The grant was used for an intensive information program to create public awareness of the project, and for training-workshops on turtle conservation, anchored on the management of marine protected areas.

The approved MPA ordinance sets penalties for violations to strengthen protection measures. These include fines of P5,000 per person for fishing inside the no-take zones; gathering and/or destroying marine organisms; and stealing marker buoys. A P2,500 fine is levied per passenger of boats that pass or anchor inside the sanctuaries.

With the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as lead agency, the EcoGov Project is helping the local government of Davao City implement its forest and coastal resources, and urban environment, management plans.