Zambales expands MPA network with 2 new sanctuaries

INTERCONNECTED The coral reef ecosystems of the Calanga Reef Marine Protected Area in Iba and the Rabaw-ti-Bato Marine Protected Area in San Narciso have been added to the Zambales Marine Protected Area Network, strengthening province-wide efforts to conserve marine biodiversity, restore fish populations, and protect the coastal communities that depend on the sea.—Photos courtesy of DENR Central Luzon MANILA, Philippines — Hidden beneath the waters along this province’s coastline are coral reefs that serve as nurseries for marine life, where fish hatch, feed, and mature before venturing into surrounding fishing grounds. For years, these reefs have been protected by coastal communities in their respective towns. Two of them are now part of a larger, province-wide conservation network. With the inclusion of the Calanga Reef Marine Protected Area in this capital town and the Rabaw-ti-Bato Marine Protected Area in San Narciso, Zambales has expanded a network of marine sanctuaries. These areas are designed not as isolated pockets of protection, but as interconnected habitats that can help restore fish populations and strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems. Article continues after this advertisement In a recent statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the two marine protected areas (MPAs) were formally admitted into the Zambales Marine Protected Area Network (Zampan) through a resolution approved by Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. READ: In Zambales, coastal volunteers lead defense of marine sanctuary The resolution recognizes both sites as ecologically significant coral reef ecosystems and integrates them into the province’s coordinated management framework for marine conservation. “Protecting these areas as part of a larger network strengthens habitat connectivity, improves ecosystem resilience, and supports coordinated management of coastal resources across municipalities,” said Marife Castillo, provincial environment and natural resources officer of the DENR in this province. She said both reefs function as breeding, spawning, nursery, and feeding grounds for a variety of marine species, making them critical links in sustaining fisheries along the province’s western coastline. Article continues after this advertisement Connecting life Scientists have long argued that marine protected areas become more effective when they function as networks rather than isolated reserves. Fish larvae carried by ocean currents can replenish reefs many kilometers away, while adult fish often migrate beyond sanctuary boundaries. Article continues after this advertisement Protecting multiple reefs that are ecologically connected increases the chances that depleted fish stocks can recover across a broader seascape rather than in a single locality. That principle has guided Zampan since its creation in 2013 through a memorandum of understanding among the provincial government, DENR, the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Provincial Agriculture Office, and the coastal municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Botolan, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Antonio, Subic, Iba, and San Narciso. Instead of municipalities managing their marine sanctuaries independently, the network allows local governments to coordinate enforcement, monitoring, planning, and habitat protection across municipal boundaries. Beyond biodiversity The addition of the two reefs further strengthens that collaboration, particularly as the province faces mounting pressures from overfishing, climate change, and coastal development. DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said healthy marine ecosystems remain the foundation of productive fisheries and resilient coastal communities. “By expanding Zampan, we are strengthening ecosystem protection while supporting the long-term well-being of the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on our marine resources,” Pablo said. The expanded network comes as the country works toward its commitment to protect at least 30 percent of its coastal and marine ecosystems by 2030, in line with the global biodiversity framework. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. For Zambales, a province where thousands of families depend on fishing and where coral reefs support both biodiversity and tourism, the inclusion of two more marine sanctuaries represents another step toward building an interconnected coastal landscape capable of withstanding environmental pressures. /cb