THE World Resources Institute predicts that by 2030, over 90 percent of the country’s coral reef will be threatened.
Destructive fishing, coastal development, agriculture, aquaculture and lack of treatment for industrial waters are the culprits of the massive degradation of these resources for several decades.
To restore these damaged gems of the marine ecosystems, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the DOST funded the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restoration Program.
Started in 2012, the program seeks to roll out coral-transplantation technology using asexually reproduced corals to improve productivity of coral resources for sustainable fisheries.
Corals asexual-reproduction technology for reef restoration involves the collection of dislodged live coral fragments or “corals of opportunity (COPs).” The COPs are attached to coral nursery units (CNUs) for quick recovery and regeneration to increase survival rates upon transplantation in degraded coral-reef sites. Each CNU is designed to hold 500 COPs per batch and can be used several times a year.
The CNU design and the coral-transplantation technique uses marine epoxy clay, nails and cable tie. Restored sites were in Bohol, Pangasinan, Sarangani, Bataan, Zambales, Palawan, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte and Ilocos Norte. These areas were identified based on their suitability for restoration; availability of sufficient amount of coral fragments for transplanting; and their location within the marine protected area.
The program has established a total of 538 CNUs and transplanted 487,158 coral fragments. These activities contribute directly to the protection of coastal communities by providing natural barriers; improving our marine ecosystem services; developing fishery resources; and enhancing underwater tourism industry.
When the Filipinnovation Program was completed in 2013, the National Coral Reef Rehabilitation Roll-Out Program continued the work using the same asexual-reproduction technology in nine sites across the country: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Alaminos, Pangasinan; Bagac, Bataan; Subic Bay, Zambales; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Anda, Bohol; Camiguin, Zamboanga City; and Kiamba, Sarangani. Overall, the two programs are now in 20 locations across 11 regions (Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).
Developed by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute, the direct coral-transplantation technique was implemented with the local communities to restore an area in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The technique has been pilot-tested in major tourism and diving sites, including Batangas, Bohol and Boracay.
Boracay coral rehabilitation in the Apec-PPSTI-5
AT the culmination of the fifth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI-5) in Boracay, the event was highlighted with the tying of COPs to the CNUs.
The municipal government of Boracay in Malay, Aklan, was declared part of its municipal waters as the Apec-PPSTI coral garden. After a month, the team from the DOST, Sangkalikasan and Philippine Coast Guard, through their photo and video documentation of the Apec-PPSTI coral garden, observed that the fragments were fully settled and erected. This indicates a strong chance of survival despite the presence of algae and a few sediments in the tags and coral substrates.
Over time, the rehabilitated reefs will be reinhabited by fish aquatic life. Once this happens, productivity and sustainability of municipal fisheries will improve and the beauty and value of the area will be enhanced, a plus factor in the underwater tourism industry.
Other restoration activities
BESIDES the Apec-PPSTI coral-reef restoration in Boracay, DOSTPCAARRD also funded a restoration project of the Filipinnovation Program of the Bakud Reef in Kiamba, Sarangani. The restoration became necessary when MV Double Prosperity, a Panamanian-registered vessel, ran aground Bakud Reef, destroying massively some 2,844 square meters of precious coral reefs, among other major damages. With the Mindanao State University-General Santos City, in collaboration with the Sarangani provincial government, the project is expected to transplant 30,000 coral fragments to restore damage reef area; set up and deploy 10 CNUs; identify, document and establish a stream of dive sites; and develop a pool of human resources for coral restoration and ecotourism. Also part of the Filipinnovation Program is the coral reefrestoration project at the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Quezon Island was identified as the donor/collect ion site; Clave Island for setting up of the CNUs; and Romulo Island as the transplantat ion site. Meanwhile, Bagac, Bataan, and Subic, Zambales, were also named as beneficiaries of the coral -transplantation technology. Bataan Peninsula State University and Sangkalikasan Producer Cooperative served as implementing and collaborating agency, respectively.
Melvin B. Carlos, Christie A. Surara and Rose Anne K. Mananghaya/S&T Media Service
Image credits: Technology Transfer and Promotion Division DOST-PCAARRD
