Fisherman Godie Romualdo still remembers the days when fish had gone scarce in the Lamon Bay off his town of Atimonan in northern Quezon province. “My catch was barely enough to feed my family,” he said. Like several other fishing grounds in the country, fish stocks had been depleted in the bay that borders four other towns—Mauban, Gumaca, Plaridel and Lopez. Coastal villagers attributed the situation to massive commercial operations and illegal fishing activities.

Mallari, D. T. Jr. (2015, December 17). With 'reefs,' fish return to Lamon Bay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A14.