The Sagay Marine Reserve is the largest marine protected area in the Philippines, covering 32,000 hectares of the Visayan Sea north of Negros Island. Established in 1999, it protects the Carbin and Maca reefs along with extensive seagrass beds and mangrove forests. The reserve was created after years of destructive fishing — dynamite blasting, cyanide, and muro-ami nets — had severely damaged the reefs, and recovery has been significant since protection began.
The reserve is genuinely well-managed by Philippine standards. Rangers patrol regularly, the fish populations are visibly recovering, and the coral gardens at depth remain in good condition. Snorkelling is possible in shallower areas; serious divers will want a boat to reach the outer reef walls. Local fishermen around the reserve have largely shifted from destructive practices to handline fishing in designated zones, which has both improved the ecosystem and their catch.
story: "Before the reserve was established, local fishermen were using dynamite and cyanide to fish the reefs. The turnaround came partly because fish catches were collapsing — the fishermen themselves eventually supported protection after seeing how depleted the reefs had become."