| Apo Reef | |
|---|---|
 View from the Apo Reef Lighthouse on Apo Island | |
.svg)  Location in the Philippines Show map of Luzon.svg) Apo Reef (Philippines) Show map of Philippines | |
| Location | Mindoro Strait,Philippines |
| Nearest city | Sablayan |
| Coordinates | 12°39′42″N120°24′52″E / 12.66167°N 120.41444°E /12.66167; 120.41444 |
| Area | 34 square kilometres (13 sq mi) |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Natural Resources Municipal Government of Sablayan |
Apo Reef is acoral reef system in the Philippines situated in the western waters ofOccidental Mindoro province in theMindoro Strait. Encompassing 34 km2 (13 sq mi), it is considered the world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system, and is the largest in the country.[1] The reef and its surrounding waters areprotected areas administered as theApo Reef Natural Park (ARNP). It is one of the best known and most popular diving regions in the country, and is on the tentative list forUNESCO World Heritage Sites.[2]
Apo Reef can is about 28 km (17 mi) west of the coast ofMindoro. It is separated from the main island by the Apo East Pass of the Mindoro Strait.[3] Politically, the reef lies within the jurisdiction of the Province ofOccidental Mindoro inRegion IV-B of the Philippines and, more specifically, of the Municipality ofSablayan.
The park has been designated anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International because it supports a significantseabird population, with at least 10,000 breeding pairs recorded.[4]
Apo Reef is a roughly triangular coral atoll formation approximately 26 km (16 mi) from the north to the south tip, and 20 km (12 mi) from east to west. It is separated by two lagoon systems, the north and south lagoons which are bounded by narrow reef platforms. It is 34 km2 (13 sq mi) of almost triangular northern and southern atoll-like reefs separated by a deep channel that is open to the west. The channel runs east to west from 1.8 to 30 m (6 to 98 ft) deep with a fine white sand bottom, numerous mounds and patches of branching corals under the deep blue water.
The north lagoon is an enclosed triangular coral reef platform partly exposed during low tide. It is relatively shallow with depths of about 2–10 m (7–33 ft). While the south lagoon is an inverted triangular coral platform enclosed on two sides and is about 30 m (98 ft) in depth. Likewise, reef limestone and coralline sand on the eastern and south-eastern sides dominantly underlie the area.
Studies indicate that the modern reef has grown over an old reef formation during the last glacial cycle approximately 19,000 years ago. The surface morphology of the modern reef is a product of the fluctuating sea levels as the crust under Apo Reef subsides towards Manila Trench.[5]
The main geographical feature of Apo Reef is submerged, but three islands mark it on the surface: Apo Island, Apo Menor (locally known asBinangaan) and Cayos del Bajo ("Keys of the bank", locally known asTinangkapan).[6] The islands are uninhabited. Since the declaration of "no-take-zone" policy at Apo Reef Natural Park in 2007, only protected area personnel and members of the Task Force MARLEN (Marine and Apo Reef Law Enforcement for Nature), who are tasked to implement protection and conservation work at the park, stay in the protected area on weekly shifts.
The largest is Apo Island at 22 ha (54 acres) withmangroves and beach vegetation. The reef surrounding the island extends to 1 km (0.62 mi) in places. Outside the lagoonal mangroves in the eastern and southern sides of Apo Island, the soil is sandy-to-sandy loam that has less silt and clay particles, while the lagoonal mangroves have a sandy loam to clay loam soil, underlain by decomposed plant residues or coarse materials.[6]
Apo Island is separated from Apo Reef by a narrow, deep channel. The island is about 43 km (27 mi) from Mindoro and about 37 km (23 mi) from Nanga and Tara Islands, the nearest of the islands offBusuanga Island on the western side of the Mindoro Strait. TheApo Reef Light, situated on the north-east part of the island, warns ship about the location of this navigational hazard.[3] The island is situated at a two-and-a-half-hour navigation 240° from Sablayan by pump boat (banka).
The island houses a permanent ranger base which monitors the national park. An administrative desk collects the environmental fees. It is possible to stay overnight in tents subject to certain conditions. Very limited facilities are available onshore to protect the island's fragile ecosystem.
Apo Menor is located near the western end of Apo Reef, about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Apo Island.[3] It is a rocky limestone island with relatively little vegetation.[6]
Cayos del Bajo are flat coralline rock formations with no vegetation on the northern lagoon near the eastern edge of the reef. At low tide, many small rocks are dry on the reef, particularly along its northern side.[3][6]
The Apo Reef is a protected area of the Philippines classified as aNatural park encompassing 274.69 km2 (106 sq mi).[7] Of the total area, 157.92 km2 (61 sq mi) comprises the Apo Reef Natural Park while the remaining 116.77 km2 (45 sq mi) constitute abuffer zone surrounding the protected area.[1][8]
Prior to its declaration as a protected area, Apo Reef was first officially declared a "Marine Park" by then Philippine presidentFerdinand Marcos in 1980.[9] This was followed with the local government of Sablayan declaring the reef a special "Tourism Zone and Marine Reserve" three years later.[10] In 1996, the entire reef was declared a protected natural park by then-presidentFidel Ramos.[7]
In 2006, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the PhilippineDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources submitted the reef to theUNESCO World Heritage Centre for consideration as aWorld Heritage Site.[1]
Following a survey by the local chapter of theWorld Wide Fund for Nature, fishing within the reef was banned by the Philippine government in September 2007.[11][12] The marine park opened for tourists to help generate funds for its protection as well as provide an alternative livelihood for hundreds of fishermen in the area.[13]
Apo Reef was declared anational park under Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018) signed by PresidentRodrigo Duterte in July 2018.[14]
All people accessing Apo Reef need to pay an environmental fee. Tourist activities are administered by the local government of Sablayan and the local office of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).[15]
The main activity of the reef relates to its underwater quality. Scuba diving and snorkeling in Apo Reef area are exceptional due to the quality of the flora, the fauna and the clarity of the water and white sand. Many species can be observed in deep or shallow waters in particular, sharks, giant napoleons, and manta rays.[16]
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