Expertly maneuvering her small boat through the waves of the Pacific Ocean toward her coastal home on Caringo Island in Mercedes, Camarines Norte province, Susan Aseron, 36, gave a last gaze at the fish and coral sanctuaries that she and other female villagers have been guarding against illegal fishing. Aseron, along with other wives and daughters of Caringo Island, keep watch over one of the five fish sanctuaries hugging the Mercedes Group of Islands and the shores of the mainland town on the eastern part of the province. During the day, they guard the 17.17-hectare fish and coral sanctuary—home to a teeming marine life, mostly tropical and other aquarium fish species—since their group, Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Caringo (SKC), was formed separately from the bigger Inter-Island Management Council (IIMC) of Mercedes in 2011, she said.

Barrameda, S. M. (2014, April 3). Women nurture fish sanctuaries. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A15.