Top 10 in the World? In Dreamworld!

[World Wide Diver]

But, careful marine conservation can mean that some dive sites would probably be comparable with places like Palau within 5 years.

This is big business for everyone.

But, to get this level of diving takes careful management and strict policing. It also take foresight and commitment.

All I am saying is that I have not really witnessed this yet here in the Philippines (except for Tubbataha).

I am friends with the marine biologist who headed the task for to develop Tubbataha, and I realise that there can be no compromises when protecting an area PROPERLY.

Therefore, I think that traps and fishing should be stopped around all places which have million dollar potential as dive destinations. I also think that locals should be directly employed to police and protect these areas (funded by park fees and tourist levys).

Also, outsiders (whether Filipino or foreign fishers) should be stopped from fishing these areas.

How else can you protect and conserve areas??? Just being polite and asking people to respect an area will not work. And, believe me, cyanide and explosives are still commonplace in many areas in the Philippines.

Happy to post photos (good and bad) to show what I mean.

[blackline]

Originally Posted by World Wide Diver

I have good friends in Dumaguete and really like the city, the people and the diving. I respect divers and want more dive tourism (the right kind) in the Philippines. I also realise the potential for dive tourism in the Philippines.

But, I do not respect irresponsible fishing, diving or lack of comitment to conservation.

I know what can work as I have witnessed this. Apo is one of the best places to dive in the world - period. However, it could be better managed to improve the pelagic/reef life by banning all traps and fishing around the island. Money raised should go to local fishermen to protect this place.

Just imagine what the marine life would be like by taking these easy measures? Then, what would this place be like compare to places like Palau??

You and I can only guess.

However, I know that you and many others would just wish that these simple measures would be implemented.

Like more this kinda tone. You are komitted to marine conservation.I respect that. Go to Apo and talk to the fishermen there. Talk to them, but never forget to respect them and their situation in this situation. I will not be surprised if they will help you reaching your goal with APO. And with them on your side it will be easier to get the politics in the right direction.

[World Wide Diver]

My opinion is just that - my opinion. I am also a foreigner. Protection of your reefs and the marine life which lives upon/relies on healthy reefs is up to local people and National Government policies and implementation of the same.

I can only say to people that Apo is a fantastic place to dive and that the corals here are incredible. However, the pelagic life is not as good as it should be due to the area still being overfished compared to places like Palau.

To bring Apo up to the level of Palau means taking some draconian and unpopular measures with some people. However, if these people can be compensated/employed in alternative livelihoods to protect these areas, then I cannot see why anyone should be disadvantaged - the opposite in fact - people will gain.

I only ask why I should respect fishermen in the Philippines after they have virtually destroyed every reef here. I also ask why others did nothing to stop them. We can all agree on the solution, but why is the problem so big??

Plenty people here knew what was being done to reefs, but few did anything. Please say why people in the Philippines did not do anything to prevent the destruction of reefs in the past.

[World Wide Diver]

Please see this article which supports not fishing directly on reefs.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Fish key to reef climate survival

Please do something to stop fish traps and fishing directly over reefs.

[blackline]

Originally Posted by World Wide Diver

I only ask why I should respect fishermen in the Philippines after they have virtually destroyed every reef here. I also ask why others did nothing to stop them. We can all agree on the solution, but why is the problem so big??

Plenty people here knew what was being done to reefs, but few did anything. Please say why people in the Philippines did not do anything to prevent the destruction of reefs in the past.

Well. Do you think in general fishermen in the phils ar fat and welthy people??.
These are people who is poor and need to get their familybudget going around.
And with low marine environmental understanding it is easy to try some shortcuts in the harvesting.

Without the fishermen on your side, I dont see any sollution ahead. So they are the key to success. And that need your respect for them.They have probably allready had a lot of foreigners showing them all other things than that.

[jellyfish]

Originally Posted by World Wide Diver

My opinion is just that - my opinion. .......................
I can only say to people that Apo is a fantastic place to dive and that the corals here are incredible. However, the pelagic life is not as good as it should be due to the area still being overfished compared to places like Palau.
.............. However, if these people can be compensated/employed in alternative livelihoods to protect these areas, then I cannot see why anyone should be disadvantaged - the opposite in fact - people will gain.

I only ask why I should respect fishermen in the Philippines after they have virtually destroyed every reef here. ............... .
Please say why people in the Philippines did not do anything to prevent the destruction of reefs in the past.

WWD, you're getting my real respect now.
I disagree on what you say about the fishermen. If I see the world wider than as a diver in the Philippines then I can blame so many western people (governments/politicians/citizens/ etc etc..) who have done similar or worse to destroy our environment in the past (and they still do: look e.g. who are not fully signing the Kobe agreement !).
Compared to the powerful people in the world (who grab what they can take and don't want to think about the consequences) these fishermen are peanuts in the worlds' destruction.
It won't say that we should not try to stop them, but don't get mad on fishermen and say or do nothing about our own western attitude.
Luckily some changes are made, but I fear ....too late !
Yes, also in the Philippines authorities are not doing a lot. They are years behind what is done in SOME western countries. And yes ....corruption.
You don't have to ask yourself WHY the Philippines did not do anything (I say: "a bit"). You know the answer. Same as in the western world !
But I really appreciate what you're doing. Don't misunderstand me.

[World Wide Diver]

I entirely agree with you. My only wish is that more divers would take some positive action within their local areas.

I know that dive tourists take marine protection very seriously and that this is a major consideration when choosing a dive destination. I also know that divers do not mind paying park fees IF they know that fees are spent locally to develop/protect that area.

For Apo, I am 100% sure that all divers and local businesses would support 100% of park fees being used locally to protect corals and marine life around Dumaguete rather than it being sent to Manila.

Some of this money could be used to engage local (emphasis on local) fishermen in conservation and to support their families.

Local business should also get involved in this as dive tourism is big for them there. This would also encourage other areas around the Philippines to follow.

For sure, something has to happen to protect and restore many reefs. Apo demonstrates to the World how good coral reefs should be. For this reason alone, Apo will always be a world class dive destination.

However, with money and an imaginative approach, this area could also be full of marine life - resident marine animals/pelagics - that would really showcase this place as a rare diving area - pristine corals, great pelagics and exceptional macro. There are very few destinations worldwide that offer all this that are easily accessable.

I personally think that this will happen in the next few years, but in the immediate future it is important to deal with fish traps and fishing close to the shore.

Nobody likes seeing this - especially if they have travelled halfway around the World AND have payed a big fee to dive.

[Rhoody]

I do agree with quite some points but it is also a typical post of someone who has no real clue about the area.... sorry to be hard on that but it creates a totally wrong picture...

...now back to the facts of Apo Island and other protected areas around Dumaguete...

the BIG fee to dive Apo Island is 350 Peso per Diver per day.

fishing is allowed on 3 out of 11 dive-spots (no net-fishing)

local dive-shops are participating in conservation programs, donating money books paper and,and,and.. for the school on Apo sponsoring trips for SU, sending their marine-biologists there to help with different issues

many people on Apo (including fishermen) are employed (part time or full) to watch over the diving and fishing regulations around the island.

fishermen get paid to set sharks free if they catch one

Have a look at all the Dauin sanctuaries and you wanna tell me they are not working...???

I am probably longer here than you and have also a lot of issues and complaints, but blind critics without proper knowledge does not help anyone...

I agree totally that there has to be done more, and quite some locals working on that, so pleas, gain some knowledge about things going on here and the attitude of the locals before posting wrong stuff.

cheers

Rhoody

[World Wide Diver]

Seeing fish traps on the Philippines prime dive site is not good. It is as simple as that.

And Rhoody, if you took the time to read my previous posts then you would realise that I do actually know something about this.

I really applaud what has been achieved around Dumaguete - including Dauin (which I personally regard as one of the top 10 dives in the Philippines). However, if you are in the business of diving or rely upon dive tourism, then you must listen to what your paying customers say. And, in this case, I agree that no kind of fishing should take place in an area where people pay a lot of money to travel to/dive in. 350 pesos per day x 1week = 1450 pesos. That's around 35 bucks for a week. You can get a Koror State dive permit valid for 2 weeks for $35 USDollars. That's 2 weeks diving in Palau (for same price as permits for 1 week there). And, I have yet to see people fishing dive sites or dropping traps on the same in Palau.

So again, I applaud what happening around Dumaguete, but there's still much room for improvement. And, as this WILL benefit everyone, so I really can't see what the problem with this is - unless you are politician that is.

[Rhoody]

errrmmm I read all your posts, that was the reason why I did my post as I am sure you don't know a lot about this region...
yes I agree with plenty of room for improvement, I also listen to my paying guests and over 90% are very happy with the diving here (at least at the shop i was working). 90% is a bloody damned good rate and the number of returning guests proofs that even more.

It also comes down to explain my guests why there are fish traps at 3 diversities, and they all understand it. Just a matter of communication, ...I know, some guides here are missing out on it badly.

There is NO way to tell 700 people that they can't do anymore what they did the last few hundred years...

We are in a region here where money is not everything to the people as they will have no single Peso left the day after you give it to them no matter how much it is..

I also believe that there are already enough dive-shops and resorts in that area, for the given reachable dive-sites.

BTW, I do work with others on educational projects not only in the diving-business.


cheers

Rhoody