Sen. Loren Legarda, chairwoman of the Senate climate change committee, urged yesterday various government agencies to deal with rampant illegal poaching in high seas, especially within the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea. "Illegal poaching has for many years caused severe damage to the seabed and the coral reefs pollute the sea and kill hundreds of marine species, thus affecting the balance of marine biodiversity, " she said. In a speech before the Fourth Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium held at the Macro Polo Plaza in Cebu, Legarda said the Philippines, being an archipelago located within the coral triangle, is blessed with very rich biodiversity and has one of the worlds marine ecosystem, characterized by extensive coral reefs, seagrass bed, and dense mangroves.

Casayuran, M. B. (2018, June 7). Curb illegal poaching in PH high sears -Legarda. Manila Bulletin, p. B-8.