BIMP-Eaga asks Japan to save world's tuna spawning ground
Sun Star Davao 20 Dec 07;
JAPAN, one of the world's biggest consumer of tuna, is expected to contribute millions of dollars in funding to save and preserve the Coral Triangle, which has been identified by marine scientists as the world's spawning ground for tuna.
Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, said the four countries comprising BIMP-Eaga -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines -- agreed during the recent minister's meeting in Singapore to save and preserve this critical marine area along Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea which is the world's richest source of tuna.
The preservation of this so-called Coral Triangle was initiated by presidential daughter Ma. Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo, who works closely with the World Wildlife Fund, (WWF) as an active advocate for marine preservation in this part of the world.
Arroyo said the world's tuna population has been diminishing over the years from over-fishing and time has come for the countries of BIMP-Eaga to join hands in saving the spawning grounds of tuna in the Coral Triangle.
Trade Asst Secretary Merly Cruz who also heads the Senior Ministers meeting urged the four countries to help each other in coming up with plans and programs to preserve the region's Coral Triangle.
The BIMP-Eaga is composed of the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; Irian Jaya, Maluko and the provinces of Kalimantan and Sulawesi in Indonesia, the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the Federal territory of Labuan in Malaysia; and the islands of Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines covering an area of 1.6 million square kilometers with a total population of 57.5 million people.
