Negros is a hub of local marine conservation. Its volcanic slopes tumble into seas where thriving MPAs (marine protected areas) guard reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. Grassroots organizations and local Bantay Dagat patrols work hard to stop illegal fishing, proving how community-driven conservation can restore marine ecosystems. Home to the famous MPA around Apo Island, this is one of the most exciting, and underrated, regions in Philippines.
Zamboanguita is a frontline story of community conservation. Here, the reefs are guarded by the Bantay Dagat—volunteer “Sea Wardens” made up of local fishers, farmers, and townspeople who patrol against illegal fishing, monitor marine sanctuaries, and protect the waters they depend on. Decades of their work have transformed the coastline into a thriving reef system, with schools of fish and hard corals returning in force.
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