| Guimaras Strait | |
|---|---|
 Guimaras Strait at Bacolod | |
.svg)  Guimaras Strait Location within the Philippines | |
 | |
| Location | Western Visayas |
| Coordinates | 10°42′N122°49′E / 10.700°N 122.817°E /10.700; 122.817 |
| Type | strait |
| Basin countries | Philippines |
| Max. length | 95 km (59 mi), N-S |
| Islands | Guimaras,Pan de Azucar |
| Settlements | Bacolod |
Guimaras Strait is astrait in theWestern Visayas region of thePhilippines, connecting theVisayan Sea withPanay Gulf and theSulu Sea beyond. To the north and west arePanay andGuimaras Islands, whileNegros Island is to the south and east.[1]Bacolod City is a major seaport on the strait, which also provides access to thePort of Iloilo City via theIloilo Strait.
The Guimaras Strait is an important fishing ground in the Philippines, having an average of annual fish production of 50,000 metric tons. The northern part is particularly known forblue crab, a top export commodity.
Other species present in the strait includebarracuda,cavalla,clams,cockles,crevalle,dolphin,flounders,flying fish,fusiliers,glassfish,goatfish,goby,grouper,jacks,jelly fish,lizard fish,marine turtle,milkfish,mojarra,moonfish,moray,mullets,mussels,scallops,oysters,perchlet,scads,sea bass,sea catfish,sea cucumber,sea perches,sea urchins,seaweeds,shads,sicklefish,siganids,sillago,slipmouth,snappers,spadefish,sponges,surgeon fish,threadfin, andwrasses.[2][3]
TheGuimaras oil spill, that occurred inPanay Gulf on August 11, 2006, has severely affected the fishing industry. During this spill, considered Philippines' worst, the oil tanker M/TSolar 1 sank during a violent storm, spilling some 500,000 litres (110,000 imp gal; 130,000 US gal) of oil which formed an oil slick that drifted through the strait.[4] This spill followed another one in December 2005, when a passenger ship ran aground in the strait. It spilled 360,000 litres (79,000 imp gal; 95,000 US gal) of fuel oil, polluting some 40 kilometres (25 mi) of coastline and 230 hectares (570 acres) of virgin mangrove forests.[5]
Besides these oil spills, the ecosystems of the Guimaras Strait also suffer from rapid coastal development andoverfishing. Increased urban populations and transportation are causinganthropogenic pressures,[6] whilegillnet fishing has exceeded the maximumsustainable yield since 1999.[7]
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| National | |
