Bantay dagat

The '''bantay dagat''', also known as the '''sea patrol''', are community-based, volunteer organizations in the [[Philippines]] that work with local and national government officials and within 15 kilometers of the shore to protect the [[marine ecosystem|marine]] environment, especially patrolling against [[illegal fishing]], and to provide assistance in rescue operations. It is under the [[Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Philippines)|Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources]] (BFAR) of the [[Department of Agriculture (Philippines)|Philippine Department of Agriculture]].

Bantay Dagat is "a participatory approach designed for coastal law enforcement which has existed in the Philippines since the 1970s."<ref name=Rosales>{{cite book|last=Rosales|first=Rina Maria P.|title=Incentives for Bantay Dagat Teams in Verde Island Passage|date=September 2008|accessdate=16 June 2013|publisher=Conservation International Philippines|page=1|url=http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/publications/Documents/Incentives_for_Bantay_Dagat_in_Verde_Passage.pdf}}</ref> The current structure was founded in 1994 at the behest of [[Philippine Senate|Philippine Senator]] [[Santanina Rasul]].<ref name=ManilaTimes>{{cite news|last=Rasul |first=Amina |title=The Earth at risk: 'Bantay Dagat, Bantay Yaman' |url=http://www.ecologyasia.com/news-archives/2008/apr-08/tst_080427_1.htm |accessdate=16 June 2013 |newspaper=The [[Manila Times]] |date=27 Apr 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913174850/http://ecologyasia.com/news-archives/2008/apr-08/tst_080427_1.htm |archivedate=13 September 2014 }}</ref> They work with the Department of Agriculture, [[Department of the Interior and Local Government]], the [[Philippine Navy]] and the [[Philippine Coast Guard]], among others.<ref name=ManilaTimes /> By the year 2000, there were over 100,000 Bantay Dagat volunteers.<ref name=ManilaTimes />

There have been several incidents of Bantay Dagat leaders being killed, such as in [[Batangas]] in 2009.<ref name=CIPhil>{{cite news|title=ANOTHER BANTAY DAGAT LEADER SHOT DEAD IN BATANGAS|url=http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/news/Pages/BantayDagatshotdeadinBatangas.aspx|accessdate=16 June 2013|newspaper=Conservation International Philippines|date=2 October 2009}}</ref>

The volunteers may receive a small honorarium as well as other benefits, similar to Philippine [[tanod]]s, land-based, community watchmen.

== See also == * [[Philippine Coast Guard]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130707084558/http://vip-bantaydagat.org/ Verde Island Passage Bantay Dagat Portal] * {{YouTube|Wc732fTC0Ys|Bantay Dangat}} (Includes footage of patrols and stops. From [[Camarines Norte]], Philippines. Not in English)

[[Category:Environmental organizations based in the Philippines]] [[Category:Coast guards]] [[Category:Sea rescue organizations]] [[Category:Law enforcement in the Philippines]] [[Category:Tagalog words and phrases]]