Tañon Strait

The Tañon Strait is a body of water, separating the islands of Negros and Cebu in the Visayas, Philippines. The strait, which is about 100 mi long, connects the Visayan Sea in the north to the Bohol Sea in the south. Its width varies from 5 to, with the narrowest point in the south. In the north the strait is closed off by the Don Islands, the largest of which is Bantayan. The cities of San Carlos, Negros Occidental, Bais, Negros Oriental and Toledo, Cebu have deepwater port facilities. The Tañon Strait is known for whale and dolphin watching, with tour boats operating from Bais City.Protected areaProtected seascape The Tañon Strait protected seascape was established by President Ramos under Proclamation No. 1234 of 1998.ControversyOn February 7, 2008 the Supreme Court of the Philippines ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy to comment on a certiorari petition filed for baleen and toothed whales, dolphins, porpoises including the Irrawaddy dolphins, and other cetacean species in the Tañon Strait to stop oil exploration by Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (JAPEX) in the protected waterway. The strait serves as a marine wildlife reserve that provides grounds for breeding, feeding and resting to 11 species of marine mammals. The court was asked to recognize the petitioners as "Filipino mammals" with constitutional rights.