Capones Island

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Capones Island, also known as Grand Capon, is a small island about 1.9 km long and 0.4 km wide, located about 3.8 km off the coast of Zambales on western Luzon, Philippines. It is the largest of the Capones Islands, which also include Camara Island and a nearby islet connected by a sand bar, and it is part of barangay Pundaquit in the San Antonio municipality. The island features large rock formations, steep cliffs, and white-sand beaches with coral, and the Capones Island Lighthouse sits on the hillside near the western end. The waters around the island are rich in fish and coral but currently lack formal protection. After the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption reduced fish catches and caused silt buildup, illegal fishing increased. In 2003, the Environmental Protection of Asia Foundation proposed turning Capones Island into a marine protected area called Capones Island Marine Park, in coordination with San Antonio's local government, hoping to protect the sea and also provide alternative livelihoods such as tourism.