Mission Blue launches Hope Spot- the Verde Island Passage in Philippines

Mission Blue, an American-based Non-profitable organization aiming to protect the ocean water and its species, has recently launched a new Hope Spot- the Verde Island Passage, located in the Philippines and shared some glimpses from it.

As per the update, a new Hope Spot – the Verde Island Passage– is in the Philippines. The Verde Island Passage is a significant waterway that separates southern Luzon Island from northern Mindoro Island, extending from Lubang Island in the west to Tablas Island in the east.

This Hope Spot encompasses 1.14 million hectares of coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats, possessing a remarkable abundance of marine life and providing livelihoods to millions of people.

The Verde Island Passage is being named a Hope Spot in recognition of the Champions’ efforts to efforts to push for the expansion of the Verde Island Passage Marine Protected Area Network (VIP MPA Network) by adding new MPAs and expanding existing MPAs, and their work to achieve national standardization across reef monitoring techniques to identify exceptionally resilient coral species and reefs.

Over the beauty and successful launching of the Verde Island Passage, the United States Embassy in the Philippines expressed their pleasure and honoured the hard work and efforts of the Scientists to accomplish this project.

The United States Army emphasized that American and Filipino scientists have been working hand-in-hand to protect the delicate ecological balance of Philippine waters.

Reportedly, the International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue has named the Verde Island Passage (VIP) in Luzon a Hope Spot, a special place that is scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. U.S. research institute California Academy of Sciences and De La Salle University have been instrumental in expanding the VIP Marine Protected Area Network and standardizing reef monitoring techniques to identify exceptionally resilient coral species and reefs.