On January 17, 2013 the USS Guardian, a 68-metre minesweeping vessel, entered Tubbataha Park in the Philippines without proper clearance and promptly ran aground on one of the most fertile reef systems on the planet.
Over the last 25 years, the inhabitants of the nearby Palawan Island have been able to establish this isolated reef system into a multi-award-winning and tightly protected marine reserve that is acknowledged as among the world's best, one of the jewels of the Coral Triangle. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and plays a vital role in populating the surrounding waters with marine life.
As of 23 January, The USS Guardian remains grounded on the coral reef and it is not yet clear the extent of damage it has caused to the fragile ecosystem. WWF Philippines has also expressed serious concerns about the possibility of further damage being caused in the extrication process.
In a statement issued three days after the grounding the ship's captain, Vice Admiral Scott Swift, said "as a protector of the sea and a Sailor (sic) myself, I greatly regret any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef." The statement also place the blame on the mishap on innacurate naviational charts which placed the reef in the wrong location.
Divers have begun to assess the damage, which by Philippines law should result in a hefty fine - current fines levied for damage to coral reefs are $300 per square metre according to Angelique Songco, head of the government's Protected Area Management Board.
Tubbataha's coral ecosystem supports a wide variety of marine species including 600 species of fish, 360 species of corals, 14 species of sharks, 12 species of dolphins and whales plus nesting populations of seabirds and marine turtles.
