Status of Marine Protected Areas in Lanuza Bay, Southeastern Philippines
Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been considered as a conservation strategy in improving fish stocks in coastal and marine areas. From 1994 to 2008, the number of MPAs in the Philippines has increase to from 400 to 1,169 to the present.
These MPAs have been monitored by community-based organizations, NGOs, the academe and other organizations and institutions. Haribon has been assisting the local governments and community-based organizations in the municipalities of Lanuza and Cortes since 2002 through capacity building, awareness raising, research and advocacy activities on biodiversity conservation. With funding support from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation and the Spanish Government through Cives Mundi, nine (9) MPAs were monitored from 2002 to 2009.