OVER SEAS -- The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas

Sarangani

The learning area covers three municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan and Glan) along the 125-km coastline of Sarangani Bay, the municipalities of Maasim, Maitum and Kiamba, and one chartered city (General Santos City), or a total of 267 km of coastline, 67 barangays and a population of nearly 200,000 persons (1995). Coastal management problems identified here are typical of fast developing coastal areas. Most land areas have been converted to agriculture and fishponds, and very little of the coastal land retains natural vegetation. As a result, the Bay suffers from sedimentation. High fishing pressure has also been noted, and there are reports of the use of toxic substances and fine mesh nets, as well as the catching of juvenile fishes in some areas. CRMP enjoys strong local government support, which could very well spell the difference between sustainable development and further degradation of coastal resources in the area.

"Our Seas, Our Life" closes Year of the Ocean in GenSan
The much acclaimed traveling marine exhibit "Our Seas, Our Life" ended its last run for the year at the Gaisano Mall in General Santos City. The attendance figures are still being collated, but Learning Area Coordinator Hermenegildo Cabangon said the exhibit has been highly successful in bringing together the different sectors in Saranggani to work for ocean conservation. "It did not take a lot of effort on our (CRMP's) part as an inter-agency task force based in General Santos City took on the responsibility of running the show," Cabangon noted. With this initial success, he added, "we hope to train an IEC team within Sarangani so we can multiply CRMP's IEC effort at the local level."

The Sarangani team also helped establish two sanctuaries -- one in Kiamba (20 hectares) and another Glan (10 hectares). Related to this, the team trained a group of scuba divers from the local government of Kiamba "so they can effectively monitor their sanctuary." Another group from Glan was sent to Cebu to train in marine sanctuary monitoring. §