THE ANNUAL Paraw Regatta should not just be about sailboats racing to reach the finish line. According to Mayor Jose Espinosa III of Iloilo City, it should also focus on the importance of protecting our marine resources. Rightly so. The paraw, a small boat with two stabilizers, was widely used for travel and trade in the 1200s. Up to this day, it is still being used as a means of transport. It also aids in the sea-based livelihood of our fisherfolk.
The Philippines has one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. It is located within the Coral Triangle and houses what is considered the world’s center of the center of marine biodiversity, the Verde Island Passage. Unfortunately, only one percent of coral reefs in our country remains in excellent condition; coastal cities and municipalities are threatened by creeping sea level rise; and we are one of the top sources of plastic trash dumped into the sea.
What happened in Boracay Island, considered as among the best beaches in the world, is an example of wanton disregard for our marine ecosystems. In recent years, around 17.5 million liters of wastewater were generated in Boracay every day and a considerable volume was not treated properly.
Another threat to our marine resources is global warming. We must safeguard our seas and reduce the impacts of climate change. Oceans have absorbed about a third of global carbon dioxide emissions, causing acidification. This has also resulted in coral bleaching. Ocean acidification is causing irreversible damage to coral reefs. A World Bank study shows that this would cause a decrease in marine fish capture. For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, this unraveling scenario is a nightmare.
Reefs are complex ecosystems that are vital to the continuity of life in the sea. They protect coastlines from wave and storm erosion and function as nurseries and habitats for thousands of marine species. They are ultimately connected to mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and countless other ecosystems.
We have relied so much on the oceans for our existence – for food, for employment, for energy and for recreation. However, global warming, rapid population growth along with unsustainable marine practices such as overfishing, waste dumping, oil spills, among others, have seriously damaged marine habitats and life in the sea over the years.
In the next editions of Paraw Regatta, we hope the organizers would step up the campaign for responsible fishing practices and sustainable marine management and conservation systems not only to improve fisheries yield but also to maintain ecological balance. We must all work together to bring back our oceans and the whole marine ecosystem to excellent condition so that our seas can benefit us in a sustainable manner.
