1. Increase domestic tourism and foreign tourism… results in huge flow through revenues to the local economy - in construction, services such as hotels, food, boating, guides, etc. But obviously this has to be done responsibly as well.

2. Using local fishermen in new roles, such as guides to see the whales rather than eating them, or sharks in the case of Malapascua…

3. Education to make everyone realize that wiping out stocks now only means a harder life for their descendants. Clearly fishermen and owners of large trawlers who practice muro ami fishing, dynamite and cyanide CANNOT believe that what they are doing is justified, even on an empty stomach.

4. Enforcing bans on the catching and killing of certain species… now that you can’t really travel with specimen shells out of certain provincial airports with xrays, there has been a dramatic slowdown in the sale and hopefully harvesting and sale of such shells.

5. Consumers can and should stop EATING foods such as sharksfin soup, bird’s nest, rays, sharkmeat, etc. so that they lose their economic appeal to those that catch them.

6. Mangrove areas and other spawning grounds need to be expanded and artificial reefs and such also need to be encouraged to help replenish the depleted stocks of fish, etc.

And frankly, in my personal opinion, everyone should just get a grip and choose to have less kids… in the recent censuses, those with adequate means are hovering around two kids on average, while those with very limited income still have an average of 6-7 kids… so if one does the math… you see the results. Yes, everyone has a responsibility to do something about it, but it isn’t just a have vs. have not issue, but rather one of personal acountability to one’s surroundings and environment… I agree it is every individual’s right to have as many kids as they please, yet I believe it is an even MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT that kids SHOULD EXPECT AND DEMAND to grow up with adequate nutrition, shelter, education, etc. from BIRTH until they are of age… otherwise one shouldn’t have them. Today, there are approximately 89 million filipinos, just 12 years ago there were roughly 69 million, and when Marcos was kicked out in 1986, some 55 million, and when he took office for the first time in the late 1960’s, there were probably less than 36 million. So you can just imagine how much more food is required from the same amount of land and sea. And population is growth is completely self-determined. No wonder there is such a strong conflict between man and food sources. Here is a link to historical Philippine population numbers.

Btw, I am not trying to attack you or your views. I totally agree at some level. Yet I think that since you have the luxury of time and resources, how about sparing some of your time for a good cause for humanity as well?

Peace to all. :)