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The Verde Island Passage, lying in the "Coral Triangle" and situated between the main Philippine island of Luzon and the island of Mindoro, has been reported as the "center of the center" of shorefish diversity, yet there are no documented successful cases of marine protection. On the northern coast of Mindoro, here focusing on the municipality of Abra de Ilog, an apparent contradiction lies in the fact that the number of families of coral and fish, and corresponding species counts, remains relatively high, though coral cover is "fair to good" at best due to various sources of anthropogenic impact. Furthermore, the mean catch per unit effort (0.92 kg/person/hour) and the mean income per unit effort (PhP33.3 [USD 0.70]/person/hour) are both low, with 23% of total fishing trips reporting no catch. Terrestrial run-off, mainly siltation, and overfishing are the main threats. Though the area is situated in a recognized center of biodiversity, fishing as a means of livelihood cannot be sustained. A major challenge to the establishment of marine protected areas is social acceptability