Danajon Bank | |
|---|---|
Double Reef | |
  Danajon Bank Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 10°16′N124°17′E / 10.267°N 124.283°E | |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 97 mi |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Philippine Trench |
The Danajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines, which is a very rare geological formation, which is located in the Camotes Sea. It comprises two sets of large coral reefs that formed offshore on a submarine ridge due to a combination of favorable tidal currents and coral growth in the area.
One of only six double barrier reefs in the world, Danajon Bank runs for 156 kilometers [97 miles] in the Central Visayas, between the following islands: Bohol, Cebu, and Leyte. [1] There are only 3 major passages through this double reef — the NorthWest Pass, the Middle Pass, & the NorthEast Pass. The Danajon Bank's overall area is 272 square kilometers [105 square miles], with an aggregate coastline of 699 kilometers [434 miles], which includes 40 islands. The Danajon Bank makes up over 1% of the total coral reef area of the Philippines, which is estimated at 27,000 square kilometers [10,424 square miles].
Due to overfishing, the Danajon Bank has a declining population of fish, and many upper-level predators have ceased to hunt along the reef. To counteract this, 34 Marine Protected Areas have been established. [2]
From 2003 to 2010 USAID funded the FISH Project, a conservation project aimed at managing fisheries in the Philippines, including those on the Danajon Bank. [3] Dynamite fishing is the preferred method of fishing there, and the fish catch has considerably dwindled due to the absence of the fish and the destruction of the various coral reef habitats.
Species such as flathead fish, anemonefish, parrotfish, angels, wrasses, blue-edged sole, and messmate pipefish are present in the ecosystem of the Danajon Bank. Large sea fans and sponges live in the areas with deeper water, as does branch coral.
The reef is also home to three endangered coral species such as the mushroom coral, bubble coral, and elegance coral. Seahorses live in the reef, and have become a popular attraction for environmentalists seeking to observe the animal in its natural habitat. [4]
It is home to a vast array of commercially valuable reef fishes, shellfish, crustaceans, and invertebrates such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Its extensive seagrass beds are nursery and feeding grounds for various species of rabbitfish (siganids) and sea horses, while its mangroves are spawning habitats for crustaceans, shrimps, and various fishes. Almost all sea grasses that occur in the Republic of the Philippines are well represented in this double barrier reef.
Small islands are situated in the Danajon Bank. Since the area is rich is marine resources, these islands are mostly populated with fisherfolks. Some of these islands are the most densely populated islands in the world.
| Municipality/City | Name of Island |
|---|---|
| Bato, Leyte | Dawahon |
| Bien Unido, Bohol | Bilangbilangan East Hingotanan Malingin Sagasa |
| Buenavista, Bohol | Cabul-an |
| Calape, Bohol | Mantatao |
| Getafe, Bohol | Banacon Nasingin Pandanon |
| Inabanga, Bohol | Cuaming Hambongan |
| Lapu-Lapu City | Caubian Islands |
| Talibon, Bohol | Cataban Calituban Guindacpan Nocnocan |
| Tubigon, Bohol | Bagongbanwa Batasan Bilangbilangan Mocaboc Pangapasan Ubay Island |
A memorandum of agreement was signed on September 7, 2022, for the creation of the Bohol Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef Management Council (BDBDBRMC). This agreement was participated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the provincial government of Bohol and the municipal government units of Bien Unido, Buenavista, Clarin, Getafe, Inabanga, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Talibon, Trinidad, Tubigon and Ubay.
The formation of the management council aims to implement proper management, protection and conservation of the Danajon Bank barrier reef that has been the breeding ground of various marine creatures, ensure food security and livelihood for communities that depend on its fishing grounds and develop the area for ecotourism.
The local governments of Cebu, Leyte and Southern Leyte that are in the vicinity of the Danajon Bank are invited to join the management council. [5]
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Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 74 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. The name "Apo" means "elder" or "respected ancestor" in the Visayan languages.
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Danajon Islet, also known as Dawahon Islet, is an islet in the Philippines located at the easternmost end of the Danajon Bank. The islet is coterminous with Barangay Dawahon, which is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Bato in the province of Leyte. The islet is only 5 hectares and has a population of about 3,230 as of the 2020 census. The islet is only 3 meters above sea level, but the Danajon Bank protects it somewhat.
The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF), or the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), is a multilateral collaborative partnership among six countries. Partners work together to sustain living marine and coastal resources by addressing crucial issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity.
Coron Bay is a well-known recreational diving region in the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, between the islands of Coron and Busuanga in the Calamian Islands. Most of Coron Bay is in the Coron Island Protected Area and is a traditional fishing area of the indigenous Tagbanwa tribe.
Nocnocan is an island off the coast of northern Bohol, Philippines. Located in the Camotes Sea, it a part of the chain of islands that are situated in the Danajon Bank, the only double barrier reef of the country. It is governed locally by Barangay Nocnocan, under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Talibon, Bohol. The island is around 13 km. northeast from the port of Talibon. Due to its proximity to the rich fishing grounds of the Danajon Reef, fishing is the main source of livelihood of the residents. They supply sea food, such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks and seaweeds to the markets in Bohol and Metro Cebu.
Pandanon is an island located in the Camotes Sea, in between the islands of Olango and Bohol, in the Visayas Region, Philippines. The island is locally administered by Barangay Pandanon, municipality of Getafe, Bohol. Pandanon is situated in the Danajon Bank, the only double barrier reef in the country and famous for its rich marine wildlife and diversity. It is 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of the port of Getafe and 13 km (8.1 mi) southeast of Cordova, Cebu. While most of the residents in the island engage in fishing, some are employed in the tourism sector, working in the beach resorts of the island and provide island hopping tours for travelers. In the 2020 Census, the population of Pandanon is 2,362. With a very small area of only 0.07 km2 (0.027 sq mi), the island is regarded as having a very high population density.
Statues ofOur Lady of Danajon and Santo Niño refer to the Virgin Mary and Holy Child respectively. Such statues were placed underwater in 2010 to stop dynamite fishing in the Danajon Bank, a double barrier reef.
Caubian Islands is a group of islands of Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines. Located in the Camotes Sea, it is approximately 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) north from Getafe, Bohol, and 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) east from Mactan Island. The group consists of two small islands: the bigger uninhabited Caubian Daku, also called Poo, and the smaller but densely populated Caubian Gamay. Both islands are located in the Danajon Bank, the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and known to be one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. It is part of the Olango Island Group. Most of the families depend on fishing and speak the Cebuano language. According to the 2020 census, the islands has a population of 2,429. With an area of around 0.06km2, Caubian Gamay has an estimated population density of 60,725/km2. It is regarded to be one of the densest populated islands in the world.
Mocaboc is an island in the Philippines, situated approximately 14 km (8.7 mi) off the northwest of the island of Bohol. Located in the Cebu Strait, the island is part of the chain of islands situated in the Danajon Bank, the only double barrier reef in the country famous for its rich marine resources. Mocaboc Island is part of the jurisdiction of the municipality of Tubigon, Bohol. Most families of Mocaboc rely on fishing and is known for supplying Ginamos or fermented fish. According to the latest 2020 Census, the total population of Mocaboc is 670. With an estimated area of only 0.02 km2 (0.0077 sq mi), the island has a high population density.
Calituban is an island off the coast of northern Bohol island, Philippines. It is located approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) north-northwast from the port of Talibon. Situated in the Camotes Sea, Calitiban Island is one of the islands in the Danajon Bank, the only double barrier reef in the country, known for its rich marine biodiversity. The whole island is locally governed by Barangay Calituban under the administration of the municipality of Talibon, Bohol. The residents of the island are mostly engaged in fishing, while some provide island-hopping tours for tourists.