Marine conservationists have joined the call for the government to uphold Philippine sovereignty over Benham Rise – mostlty for the purpose of protecting its natural resources. Benham Rise, which covers 13 million hectares of extended continental shelf east of Northern Luzon, was validated in 2012 by the United Nations’ Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as the Philippines’ newest territory. ADVERTISEMENTOceana, a nongovernment conservation group, noted that Benham Bank, the shallowest part of Benham Rise, had an “astounding 100 percent coral cover” discovered during a survey conducted last May 2016 by government scientists and academics, joined by Oceana. “We must exercise our sovereignty over this area and assert our rights. We must work together and exercise our sovereign rights to nurture and protect it – a first step would be to declare Benham Bank as a ‘no-take’ zone, immediately protecting it from any exploitation.”Oceana has come out with an online petition urging the protection of Benham Rise.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 24, 2017 13:18 UTC