MOAP…
 Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park
   

“Sustainable management of our coastal resources plays a very important role towards economic and environmental well-being of our province,” Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos said. “We should take good care of every blessing that we have,” he added.  Yes, it is true, Misamis Occidental is blessed with its rich coastal resources and marine ecosystem. The Panguil Bay, like Mt. Malindang is one of the province’s precious gems which all of us will continue to depend. It is therefore a moral obligation of every Misamisnon to take good care of these blessings.  

Sad to say however, our marine eco-system has been increasingly threatened by some greedy individuals who fail to value its importance to our existence not only for this, but for the next generations.
 
Believing that effective coastal management must be integrated, participatory, multi-disciplinary and responsive, Governor Ocampos comes up with an initiative of putting up a project that would stimulate and inspire every Misamisnon to be an active defender of the environment.
 
It is through this initiative that Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park came into being.
 
The Park spells the sincere intention of the Ocampos’ administration to place the Province’s marine eco-system under a responsible stewardship for sustainable development.    

MOAP has an area of more or less 60 hectares and serves three (3) major objectives namely: Aquaculture Production, Conservation, and Eco-Tourism.
   
Through its Aquaculture Production component, the park would further inspire the enterprising spirit of the Misamisnons to attain a gainful aquaculture livelihood through the distribution of aquaculture fingerlings to fish farmers in a designed scheme. Much more, the park is hoped to boost the province’ eco-tourism potentials.  

Gov Leo said, in order for the province to achieve sustainable development, every Misamisnon must take a firm stand to this environmental call: “DO NOT KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG.”  

Often times, many people fail to realize that our marine ecosystem which has been devastated due to dynamite fishing and all other forms of illegal fishing activities is in itself the very goose that lays the golden egg.
 
With MOAP as a new born steward of the environment, the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental hopes that each of us would take part in its call to protect, defend and conserve our marine ecosystem not only for our children but for our children’s children.

 

 

One hectare of healthy mangrove can produce 1.08 tons of fish/year






Though they are in cages, they still feel free for they are placed in a habitat naturally designed for them.