This is Tsa Kikay. She is the last standing community enforcement officer of Baco, Mindoro, Philippines. Today, she and her team of six lost their jobs as Mayor Allan Roldan took office. Tsa Kikay still made the long paddle to work on her kayak despite being unpaid. “I’m here to protect my ocean,” she says. 

The Bantay Dagat are appointed by the local government of coastal towns across the Philippines to curb illegal fishing. They are members of the community who protect the boundaries of marine protected areas. The Bantay Dagat of Baco have been awarded the position of the “Best Performing Bantay Dagat” of Mindoro, and their team is the only Bantay Dagat on the island entirely led by women. 

What Mayor Roldan doesn’t understand is that marine protected areas help local fishermen, not hinder them. When fish are allowed to self-replenish in a no-take zone, they can reach sexual maturity free from fishing pressure. This allows fish to produce more eggs which replenish other fishing areas and adult fish will swim outside of the no-take zone and can be caught by fishermen. MPAs mean more fish, bigger fish, and more food for people. 

By disbanding the women who protect this important marine reserve, Mayor Roldan has shown his unwillingness to support the marine environment and those in his community who depend on it. We need to show him that the world sees his actions. By signing this petition, you can play a role in protecting a small part of our global ocean and help a dedicated group of women keep their jobs. 

Help us get Tsa Kikay and her team their jobs back so they can continue to protect our oceans.