Apo Island
Apo Island is a small volcanic island, 7km off the southeastern tip of
Negros Island in the
Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of
Dauin, Negros Oriental. The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve; protected by the National Integrated Protected Area Act (N.I.P.A.) and comes under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (P.A.M.B.).
The Island is home to 750 people, mainly fisher folks and has since 2002 become a popular
dive site and
snorkeling destination with tourists.
Apo Island is one of the Worlds best known Community Organized Marine Sanctuary's, and as such it has been well documented, by the Global science community. The project was started in 1982. It is home to over 650 documented species of fish and estimated to have over 400 species of corals.
In 2003 the
Shedd Aquarium,
Chicago opened an estimated 40 million US dollars exhibit, based around Apo Island as the centre attraction in its Wild Reef Exhibition.
The island is 20 kilometres from
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and can be reached by a 30-minute boat ride from the fishing/market village of Malatapay,
Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.
*http://apoisland.com
*http://mozcom.com/~admsucrm/apo.htm
*http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=famousefor&province=41
