The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has expanded the Zambales Marine Protected Area Network (ZAMPAN) with the inclusion of two new marine protected areas (MPAs), strengthening the province’s efforts to conserve marine biodiversity and promote sustainable fisheries.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Marife Castillo said the Calanga Reef Marine Protected Area in Iba and the Rabaw-ti-Bato Marine Protected Area in San Narciso were officially added to the network under ZAMPAN Resolution No. 1, Series of 2026, issued by Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.

Castillo said the two sites were included because of their ecological importance as coral reef ecosystems that serve as breeding, spawning, nursery and feeding grounds for various marine species.

“Protecting these areas as part of a larger network strengthens habitat connectivity, improves ecosystem resilience and supports coordinated management of coastal resources across municipalities,” she said.

The DENR said expanding the network will help restore fish populations by protecting critical habitats where marine species reproduce and mature. Healthier fish stocks are also expected to benefit nearby fishing grounds through the natural movement of adult fish and the dispersal of larvae, improving food security and supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.