Leaders of a local fishing community, including community pastor Ronalyn Rivera, earned an open water diver certification in a scuba training geared towards the monitoring of marine resources and protected areas in Lanuza Bay, Surigao del Sur. Organized by environmental group Haribon Foundation, the scuba diving training is facilitated by volunteer instructor and Haribon member Erick Villacorte. Since 2005, Villacorte has been training fisher leaders and local government staff in open water diver certification using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) in monitoring the status of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Lanuza Bay. Through Haribon’s SMARTSeas Project in Lanuza Bay or the “Strengthening the marine protected areas to conserve the marine Key Biodiversity Areas of the Philippines” program, locals are equipped with monitoring skills and tools to help in the protection of their seas.

Dela Rosa, G., Jr. (2017, June 01). Fisherfolk receive dive training to monitor protected seas. Manila Times, p. E1.