Gilbert Bayoran
Source: The Visayan Daily Star
February 8, 2010

Sagay City, Philippines - The preservation of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Sanctuary here may be a success for Sagaynons enjoying the abundance of its marine resources for more than 30 years now, but it also attracts fishermen from neighboring islands who employ illegal methods to catch fish in the area.

Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Maranon Jr, admitted that they are facing a problem on how to protect the huge area of the marine sanctuary from poachers coming even from as far as Bantayan, Cebu, northern Iloilo and neighboring towns and cities.

At present, the Sagay City government has mobilized 32 Bantay Dagat personnel who patrol the marine sanctuary 24 hours a day using six patrol boats, and established four watch towers in strategic areas, some of them equipped with radars to detect monitor the entry of poachers.

To read the full text of the story, click here.