Bantay Dagat
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 environment, especially patrolling against illegal fishing, and to provide assistance in rescue operations. It is under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
Bantay Dagat is "a participatory approach designed for coastal law enforcement which has existed in the Philippines since the 1970s." The current structure was founded in 1994 at the behest of Philippine Senator Santanina Rasul. They work with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others. By the year 2000, there were over 100,000 Bantay Dagat volunteers.
There have been several incidents of Bantay Dagat leaders being killed, such as in Batangas in 2009.
The volunteers may receive a small honorarium as well as other benefits, similar to Philippine tanods, land-based, community watchmen.
