Did You Know That?

An authentic rainbow of species pours out of Philippine waters

ani| into aquariums around the world each year. The Philippines'
underwater landscapes surpass the terrestrial in beauty for
inexpressively rich marine life. There are more than 500 sea
species containing variants of hard soft coral reefs. The seas
support about 2,400 species of fish. Individual and commercial
fishermen have caught tuna, mackerel, squid, turtle,fish,shrimp,
lobster, crab, and a host of other marine creatures. Some reei
fishermen destroy marine life through cyanide poisoning and
dynamite fishing just to get a daily catch. Other fishes such as
swordfish, marlin, sailfish, sharks, eels and sea snakes can also
be found. There is also a multitude of small fishes in various
colors and sizes, most of them still unnamed.
The world's largest fish, the harmless whale shark, known to
reach approximately 20 meters in length, is occasionally seen in
Philippine waters. Meanwhile, the world's smallest fish called
dwarf pygmy (Pandaka pvgmaea) is common. It usually inhabits
the Malabon River and the streams of Bulacan. In Lake Buhi, the
world's smallest commercial fish, tabios, is found. However, that
creature is nearing extinction.
Other forms of marine life, ranging from whales to dolphins to
jellyfish, sponges and starfishes, can be found in Philippine
waters.

Response:
Our Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the vast marine life that you have given us, it is
truly an evidence of your power. Thank you for the fish that gives
us food to supply us with nutrition and strength to further serve
your most holy name. Thank you for the rich marine life that is
not only makes the world a better place to live but also balance
our ecosystem.
Father, I know you saw how we treated your creation. Our kind
destroyed most of your doings with harmful chemicals and
unethical form of fishing. And maybe in the near future, our race
may be the reason of the extinction of some of the species that is
already endangered.
Father, can we ask for your forgiveness? Please enlighten each
and every one of us about the right things to do. If you see us
doing the wrong things, please guide us to the right path and
never let us return to our old doings. Please fill our hearts with
your love to let us realize how we can help and restore the
beauty of your creations for the benefit of the future generations.
Father, please make us the instrument and the reason for
change. Change that is for the better, change that is beneficial to
many and change that will glorify your most Holy name.
This we ask through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Because of poisoning and dynamiting, there has been

widespread destruction of local fish populations and
ecosystems. Many of the fishes die from severe liver damage
within days of being transported. The use of sodium cyanide - a
chemical first introduced in the Philippines in the 1960s to stun
fish and now widely used as an easy (and seemingly harmless)
way to catch large numbers of fish for both domestic ad foreign
markets - has greatly devastated marine life.