NEWSLETTER OF THE SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY MARINE LABORATORY MARCH 2005 VOLUME 7 NO. 1

SU Marine Lab marks 30th AnniversaryOfficials take stock of itscontribution to marinescience and conservation

Vision, leadership and hard workare the main factors for the success ofthe Silliman University MarineLaboratory (SUML) in conductingpioneering research, advocacy andpolicy formulation in coastal resourcesmanagement, said Dr. Angel C. Alcala,founding director, during a simpleceremony marking the 30th anniversaryof the Laboratory, Aug. 23.

Alcala and current SUMLdirector, Dr. Hilconida P.Calumpong, led the ceremony held atthe lobby of new SUML building. Itwas attended by Silliman PresidentAgustin A. Pulido and formerSilliman Presidents, Dr. Quintin S.Doromal and Dr. Proceso U. Udarbe,Silliman officials and personnel, andlocal government officials andofficers of non-governmentorganizations who work with theSUML.

Members of the Apo Islandcommunity—where a successfulcommunity-based marine reserveproject is supported by the SUML—also attended the ceremony, headed byApo barangay captain MarioPascobello.

The Apo group included sevenyoung scholars in high school andcollege, who were each given a check by

Dr. Calumpong, to pay for their schoolexpenses. The scholarships aresponsored by a group of Filipinos inChicago, who learned of the ApoIsland project through the SheddAquarium exhibit in Chicago, Illinois,which features Apo Island.

The high school scholars are:Jeressa Aldeon, Alfer Suan, JobellSabanal, Riza Lumanag and ReynanMendez. The college scholars areSharon Manalastas and ErlynLardizabal.

Calumpong also handed a checkto President Annie P. Omilig ofAPCODA, a local organization in Apo,for it to put up a bakery as analternative livelihood in the fishingcommunity.

At the ceremony, Dr. Alcala,research director for the universitybefore he became Silliman Presidentand Secretary of the Department of

L-R: Dauin Mayor Rodrigo Alanano , Apo Island barangay captain Mario Pascobello, PENRO JoseCabrido and Dr. Angel Alcala sign the scholarship and livelihood grant to bonafide Apo islandresidents. Money was raised by the Filipino community of Chicago headed by Mr. Francisco Juanduring a Shedd Aquarium Gala Benefit. Not in photo, Silliman President Dr. Agustin Pulido, APCODAPresident Annie Omilig, and SUML Director Dr. Hilconida Calumpong. Photo by Jasper Maypa

Ø

Dr. Hilconida P. CalumpongSUML Director

‘The vision for SUML isto become the Center of Excellence

in Marine and EnvironmentalResearch and to establish

it as an Institutefor Environmental

and Marine Science’

2 COASTAL CURRENTS

Environment and Natural Resources,thanked Dr. Doromal, whom he called“my boss who gave me all that I neededto do my work”

Alcala also thanked PresidentPulido and said, “He invited me toreturn to Silliman, so I am now heredoing more work than I ever did.”

In response, President Pulidolauded “the outstanding work of thescientists of the Marine Lab and thevision and dedication of Dr. Alcala andDr. Calumpong and their colleagues…who have never allowed limitedresources to stop them from doing firstclass research work.”

He said that eventually, “moneycame because of the dedication andhard work of the Marine Lab…Donorswon’t give if they have no reason forgiving.”

Dr. Doromal, on the other hand,said the Lab “was not startedyesterday” and that he was delighted tosee the Lab “bear fruits at present.”

Alcala said he founded the MarineLab in 1974 as a response to themassive destruction of coral reefs andthe resulting fishery depletion, alongwith the general degradation of thePhilippine environment.

It was also a decade after RachelCarson’s bestseller Silent Spring calledpublic attention to the environmentalcrisis, and after Alcala had left StanfordUniversity as a Ph.D. graduate in 1966,where he was influenced by fellowgraduate students specializing inichthyology.

With scrap materials from a torn-down building in the main campus,5,000 Canadian dollars from the UnitedChurch of Canada, and the full backingof then Silliman President Quintin S.Doromal, Alcala put up the first MarineLaboratory building on Silliman Beachand began to set up the Sumilon Islandmarine reserve in 1973.

That project was aimed at

protecting 25 per cent of the coral reefagainst all forms of fishing to let thefish breed and grow to maturity on thetheory that they would eventuallymultiply and replenish the thinningsupply in the surrounding areas.

But later the project had to beabandoned due to political reasons.Nonetheless, Sumilon served as amodel for future marine conservationprojects in nearby areas—Apo Island insouthern Negros, Pamilacan Island inBohol Sea, Carbin Reef in the VisayasSea.

Alcala said the concept behindthe sustainable management of marineprotected areas has now been validated.“We have been able to demonstrate theenhancing effects of protected coralreefs on fisheries.”

At present the marine biologyprogram of the SUML hasbuilt an impressive research

and management record, produced agrowing batch of researchers withadvanced degrees in various areas ofmarine biology, linked up withrespective research institutions anduniversities around the world, andsustained advocacy initiatives that haveled to legal and policy reforms in thePhilippines.

According to Dr. Hilconida P.Calumpong, current SUML director,“The mission of SUML is to providequality education in coastal resourcemanagement, marine biology andenvironmental science, undertakeresearch in these areas, conductecological assessments andenvironmental impact studies, andprovide leadership in marine sciences.”

The vision, she added, is for theSUML to become the Center ofExcellence in Marine andEnvironmental Research and ultimatelybe established as an Institute forEnvironmental and Marine Sciences.

Calumpong said the subjects ofØ

Apo I. receives $10,000;SUML to administer funds

Apo Island, an island found offDauin town, received a donation of$10,000 from the Philippine Reef Gala,a fund-raising group composed of theFilipino community in Chicago, Illinois.The Silliman University MarineLaboratory was tapped to administerthe funds.

Five representatives of the ReefGala went to Dumaguete City toformalize its donation to Apo. Headedby Philippine Reef Gala Committee co-chairperson Mr. Francisco L. Juan, theysigned a memorandum of agreementlast January 20 with Silliman Universityrepresented by University President Dr.Agustin Pulido, legalizing theirintention to help provide livelihood andscholarship programs to the residentsof Apo Island. The other Reef Galarepresentatives were Mr. Vito Reyes,Mrs. Rebecca Reyes, Mrs. Isabel Juanand Ms Jeannette Burger.

The SUML, headed by Dr.Hilconida Calumpong, was assigned toadminister the funds with thebenefactors recognizing its efforts inhelping Apo Island come up andimplement successful community-basedmarine conservation programs. It willbe the community of Apo who willdetermine which livelihood andscholarship programs they will spendthe amount on.

The Reef Gala was a benefitdinner held last May 3, 2003 in Chicagowith the main thrust of generatingfunds for conservation and promotionof the coral reefs in the Philippines.Mr. Juan said their fund-raising ran foreight to nine months, and grossed$120,000. These proceeds wereappointed and donated to three entities:(1) Apo Island, (2) Philippine TourismOffice in Chicago, and (3) SheddAquarium.

Dr. Pulido thanked the donors

Øto p. 14

SU Marine Lab marks 30th Anniversary from Page 1

March 2005 3

the Lab’s major research project includegiant clam mariculture and restocking;marine mammals (whales anddolphins); sharks; seagrasses; coralbiology, diseases and transplantation;grouper breeding; biodiversity andassessment; mangrove multi-speciesreforestation.

She said the Lab continues to pro-mote marine sanctuaries, whichwere proven to have resulted in the

preservation of reef and increase in fishstock and catch. It also promotes theLandscape Approach to coastal manage-ment, highlighting the interconnectionsbetween ecosystems.

Calumpong also said that underthe USAID-funded project, the Centerof Excellence in Coastal ResourcesManagement Project, Silliman’sprograms have been strengthened. Theproject built the 28-million new SUMarine Lab building, provided for thedesign and renovation of Silliman Hall,sent six faculty members to advancedstudies in environmental courses andestablished six new programs in CoastalResource Management, EnvironmentalScience, Environmental Policy andEnvironmental Communication.

Alcala added that the MarineLab’s solid research record has made ita source of knowledge for researchershere and abroad.

“It used to be that we would goto the United States to do advancedstudies because we could not get goodtraining here. Now I am happy to statethat we are reversing the whole thing—we are now lecturing to theAmericans.”

He said the impact of the workof the Marine Lab is shown by thefollowing:• Six faculty and one affiliated

researcher at the SUML wrote a totalof 113 books and papers in the lastten years, half of them in refereedand half in non-refereed journals.

SUML and U.S. scientists to assess dugongpopulation and habitat in Tañon Strait

global scale.According to Calumpong, the

study aims specifically to:1. Survey the waters contiguous

to the coastal waters of Sagay, NegrosOccidental, including the northernthird of Tañon Srait, and the VisayanSea for the presence of dugong;

2. Obtain a measure of relativeabundance and patterns of distributionin relation to water depth, seagrasscover and species, salinity, temperatureand turbidity;

3. Survey the distribution andcomposition of seagrass beds in thearea as well as their productivity;

4. Determine anthropogenicthreats (fishing activities including by-catch, siltation, boat traffic, etc.) to thedugong population;

5. Whenever possible, obtainDNA samples from animals that havebeen stranded or tangled in fish nets;

6. During the survey, recordpresence of other marine mammals (ofimportance is the potential presence ofthe now very rare Balaenoptera edini,stranded in the area in 2000).

7. Increase awareness of the localpopulation to the conservation ofmarine mammals in cooperation withthe local offices of the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources(DENR), Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (BFAR) and thelocal government units (LGUs).

The research is significant,according to Calumpong, because thestatus of dugongs in the Philippines ispoorly documented, and their habitatshave not been studied. She said ,however, that because dugongs dependon seagrass habitats that are oftencoastal, they are highly vulnerable tothe effects of human activities such as

Dr. Hilconida Calumpong,Director, and Dr. Janet S. Estacion,Assistant Director, SU MarineLaboratory, will collaborate with U.S.scientists, Dr. William Perrin and Dr.Ma. Louella Dolar, in a research studyto assess the dugong population andtheir habitat in central Philippines, witha view of protecting these endangeredmarine mammals.

The study will be conducted thisApril in the waters off Sagay, NegrosOccidental, and the northern waters ofthe Tañon Strait, where recentstrandings of dugongs were reported.The study will be supported by a grantfrom the Ocean Park ConservationFoundation in Hong Kong.

It is reported that dugongs, theonly herbivorous mammals that arestrictly marine, were historicallydistributed throughout the Philippinearchipelago and were fairly commonuntil the 1970’s, when populationsstarted to decline rapidly.

Current distribution is reported inPalawan Island, southernMindanao coast, Sulu Archi-

pelago, Quezon-Isabela-Aurora area,Lubang Island, Guimaras, Tañon Strait,Panay Gulf and northeastern Mindanao,eastern Bicol coast, Romblon andMasbate.

The dugong has been listed in the2000 IUCN - the World ConservationUnion Red List of Threatened Animalsas being vulnerable to extinction at a

Øto p. 13Øto p. 14Photo courtesy of Sagay Marine Reserve OfficeStranded male dugong in Maca Reef

4 COASTAL CURRENTS

The number of divers and snorkelers was monitoredagainst coral damage in Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape from April 1999 to December 2003.

Trained residents were hired to monitor the tourists aswell as coral damage. Coral damage was assessed monthlyusing line intercept and transect-quadrat techniques in ninepermanent transects between 2m-10m deep in threefrequently visited dive sites around the island. Total numberof divers and snorkelers for 33 months (Apr 1999-Dec2003) was 37,239 or an annual average of 13,541.

Average monthly divers and snorkelers was 810 + 265.Of these, (72%) were divers and snorkelers (583+203) withdivers constituting 52% (583 +203) and snorkelers, 20%(228+ 167). Peak diving season fell in April. The area of theCommunity site is 3.75 ha, Marine Sanctuary is 4.5 ha andKanluran is 1.8 ha. No significant correlation at 0.05 levelwas found between number of divers/snorkelers and coraldamage in per cent/mo, per cent colonies/mo and per cent

IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON APO ISLAND REEFSH.P. Calumpong1, C. Reboton and P.L. Cadiz

Silliman University Marine Laboratory, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines1e-mail: hpc@su.edu.ph

areal damage/mo using line intercept and transect-quadratmethods.

In addition, the relative percentage of branching andfoliose coral, the two forms that are most sensitive to diver’sdamage, did not vary significantly between sites (MS = 66%;Community Area = 57%; and Kanluran = 55%). This maybe a strong indication of good management. StartingDecember 1999, Apo. I. Protected Landscape and SeascapeManagement Board has regulated the number of divers andsnorkelers allowed in the marine sanctuary daily to 15 diversdaily and 8 snorkelers at a time. Results of monitoring areregularly fed to the Board so they can adjust the number ofdivers and snorkelers who will be allowed in the marinesanctuary daily.

There are nine diving sites in Apo. These are (1)Marine Sanctuary, (2) Coconut Point, (3) Mamsa Point, (4)Community Area, (5) Cogon Point, (6) Rock Point, (7)Largahan, (8) Boluarte and (9) Kan-uran.

Among the nine, Marine Sanctuary is the most visited(13,372 total D/S; ave = 418+146), followed by CommunityArea (10,777; ave = 338 +199) and Mamsa Point (6,647; ave= 208 +122) (Figure 4). For purposes of monitoring coraldamage, the first two sites were selected and later on thethird year, Kan-uran Pt. was added as more and moretourists were observed to visit this area. Mamsa Pt. is mostlyboulder substrate.

AcknowledgmentsSupport for this project was provided by the United States

Agency for International Development (USAID) through theCenter of Excellence in Coastal Resources Management (COE-CRM) Project under the terms and conditions of contract No.AID 492-0444-A-00-5100 (April 1999-Nov 2002), InternationalCoral Reef Alliance Network (ICRAN, Dec 2002-July 2003),Commission on Higher Education-Center of Development(CHED-COD) in Marine Science (Aug 2003-Dec 2003), and ApoIsland Protected Landscape and Seascape-Protected AreaManagement Board (AIPLS-PAMB, Dec 2002-Dec 2003).

Our thanks to community monitors Analie Candido, MarilouSangual and Sedney Mendez and Alvin Pascobello (now deceased);Paul’s diving for discounted tanks and gear rentals; White TipDivers for discounted tanks and gear rentals during the training;and the Candido family for hosting the team during monitoring.

Literature CitedEnglish, S., C. Wilkinson and V. Baker (eds). (1994). Survey Manual for Tropical

Marine Resources. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville. 368pp.

Fin damaging coral.

Fin damaged coral.

March 2005 5

PADINA BLOOM IN THE BOHOL MARINE TRIANGLE, PHILIPPINESHilconida P. Calumpong

Silliman University Marine Laboratory Bantayan, Dumaguete City 6200 PhilippinesE-mail: hpc@su.edu.ph

The brown seaweed Padinacovered the seafloor at depthsof 2m to 6m in a seagrass bed

and coral reef in nothern Panglao I.,Bohol, part of an area dubbed as theBohol Marine Triangle. The bloom wasfirst observed in 2003 occurring only inTabalong covering an area of about 200by 50m and attaining biomass up to68.8 g d w m-2. In 2004, the bloom wasalso observed in Bingag and Bil-isansanctuaries, all located west ofTabalong in the northern part ofPanglao I.

Using 24-hr sediment traps,Tabalong was found to have the highestsedimentation rate (0.022 + 0.006 kg/m2

at the time of sampling among sixsanctuaries. It was noted that heavyconstruction and reclamation were

to p. 14Ø

A remarkable variation in thecolormorphology ofProtoreaster nodosus L. has been

observed in the intertidal areas inPanglao Island, Bohol. This studysought to understand the variations inthe species’ colormorphs andmorphometrics in this area. Moreover,it tried to find out whether these twovariables may possibly be affected bythe substrate or if morphometricsinfluences colormorphology.

A systematic substrate samplingtechniques was used in gathering datafor this study. Transects of an area of500 sq. m each were laid parallel to theshore of different sites in Panglao

DISTRIBUTION, COLORMORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRICS OF THE TROPICAL SEA STARPROTOREASTER NODOSUS L. IN RELATION TO SUBSTRATE IN PANGLAO ISLAND, BOHOL

Michelle Rebecca Schmocker and Janet Estacion*Silliman University Marine Laboratory, Bantayan, Dumaguete City 6200 Philippines e-mail: j_estacion@su.edu.ph

Island. Protoreaster nodosus within thesampling area was noted forcolormorphology, morphometrics, andsubstrate where it was found. Sea starswere grouped into eight colormorphs:pink, red, orange, yellow, violet, brown,tan and gray.

A comparison of the percentoccurrence of the colormorphs amongthe three substrates showed that pinkcolormorphs were dominant on coralrubble and seagrass while the tancolormorphs dominated on sand.Results of Chi-square analysis showedthat there is a significant difference (X2

computed = 20.72, X2 critical 0.05 = 18.31) in

the distribution (densities) of each

colormorph among the differentsubstrates, indicating that certaincolormorphs are more common oncertain substrates than others. Acomparison among sites usingfrequency occurrence of colormorphs

occurring in the nearby Tagbilaran Pierat the time of sampling.

Phosphates in the water averaged1.09 + 0.22 ug-at PO4-P/L and was notsignificantly different from nearbyBingag sanctuary (-0.96 + 0.32 PO4-P/L and the control site (Danao = 1.01 +0.16 PO4-P/L). Water nitrates was alsonot significantly different(p=0.33) withvalues of 0.76 + 0.04 ug-at NO3-N/Lfor Tabalong, 0.81 + 0.13 ug-at NO3-N/L for Bingag and 0.69 + 0.10 NO3-N/L for the control site (Danao).Since Padina is a calcified brown alga,Calcium in the water was also measuredand was found to be 314.13 + 22.33ppm for Tabalong, 210.35 + 88.74 ppmfor Bingag and 274.83 + 43.04 ppm forDanao (control site).

6 COASTAL CURRENTS

The Philippines is known tohave the highest diversity ofmarine mollusks, with an

estimated 5,000 species. The complex,tropical coastal ecosystem in thePhilippines, with its array of sandybeaches, coral reefs, sea grass beds,mangroves, shallow and deep seas,provides an abundance and diversearray of habitats for marine mollusks.This diversity has led to the growth ofa thriving shell industry, involving1,500 species that has existed for over40 years.

The Philippines is known to bethe top supplier of shells andshellcrafts worldwide. ThePhilippines has been exporting shellsand shellcraft to many countriessince the 1950s. Exports reached apeak in the 1980s. In 1985-87, thePhilippines was exporting 2,000 to4,000 tons of raw capis shells to 41countries yearly, for an annualincome of 37 million pesos.

A major center of the shellindustry in the country is Mactan,Cebu, in Central Visayas. Mactan’sstrategic location as a shell collectioncenter and the development oftourism industry in the Visayasregion in th 1960s and 70s promptedthe government to encourage thesupport shellcraft as a cottageindustry to earn foreign exchange.

Large shell establishmentstypically employ between 15 to 45

persons, mostly women in their 40s.Smaller establishments have fiveworkers, mostly family members andfriends. Recently, foreign traders havemoved into Mactan, selling specimenshells through the Internet. It isestimated from interviews that Cebu isexporting an average of 24-25 tons ofshells and shellcrafts daily over thepast four years

The most common shellcraftitems exported from Mactan arechandeliers, necklaces, lampshades,turtle toys, packs and place mats.One exporter shipped out 5,000pieces per month, another exported100,000 pieces of shell necklaces permonth.

Fifty per cent of the 101exporters of fish and fisheryproducts in the province of Cebu areshell and shellcraft exporters.

Many mollusks, once abundantin Philippine waters have becomelocally extinct due to overharvestingand habitat destruction. The giantclam Tridacna gigas has become locallyextinct due to overharvesting forfood and ornaments. The populationof Trochus niloticus in Honda Bay,Palawan, has declined substantiallydue to overharvesting and beds ofcapis shell in Western Visayas havebeen decimated by destructivegathering methods.

Several factors cause thedecline in the supply of shells, suchas overharvesting, habitatdestruction and pollution. Pressureon shell resources is likely toincrease further in the coming yearsas the country’s population

THE CURRENT REALITY OF THE PHILIPPINE SHELL INDUSTRYWith a Focus on Mactan Island, Cebu

By Adonis S. Floren1

(The shell industry in the Philippines is a significant part of the country’s fisheries, the Philippines being the world’s topsupplier of shells and shellcraft, but overharvesting and habitat destruction have led to the decimation or extinction of local shellspecies. In this policy paper prepared in 2004 for the Coastal Resource Management Project of the DENR and supported by USAIDunder the terms and conditions of Contract No. AID-492-C-0096-0028-00, the author presents a profile of the shell industry, thevolume of trade in shells, and the legal framework and conservation measures for the Philippine shell industry. He also suggestsmeans for saving the shell industry. Following are excerpts from the paper.)

1 Adonis Floren is an M.S. Marine Biology student of Silliman University. He was commissioned by DENR to conduct this study.

Handcraft items made from shells aredisplayed in shellcraft stores and showrooms in Mactan and Cebu City.

The helmet shell “budyong” Cassiscornuta, a prohibited species under FAO158, being displayed in a show room inCebu City.

Ø

March 2005 7

continues to grow and demandincreases. Monitoring andmanagement of Philippine marineresources are usually onlyundertaken after the depletion andeven extinction of species.

Many marine species could beharvested on a sustainable basis, ifwe knew more about their rates ofgrowth and reproduction and couldbe sure that collecting methodswould not cause damage.

Fish stocks in the Philippineshave been harvested beyondtheir sustainable yield and

mollusk resources are most likely in asimilar state. There is a growingconcern over the sustainability of thetrade and collection. However, withoutany clear information and data, thesustainability issue cannot be ad-dressed. Export records of shells andshellcrafts from concerned govern-ment agencies are highly variable and

Export

Import

Legend

California, USA

Sweden

SpainJapanChina

South Korea

Mauritius

PhilippinesMexico

Indonesia

#

#

#

#

#

###

#

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# TaiwanFlorida, USA

A world map showing the major countries where shells and shellcrafts are exported from Mactan, Cebu.

fragmented, making a robust assess-ment of the industry not possiblewithout more substantial effort inmonitoring.

The Philippines has soundlegislation and strict laws pertainingto shells. If these are implemented,it is likely that the shell industrycould provide more livelihood andjob opportunities to more Filipinos.Pro-active management for the shellindustry is essential while there isstill time and before a more reactivemanagement will be required whenstocks begin to collapse.

The government shouldconsider the followingrecommendations:• Improve data collection and

monitoring of the shell industryby one government agency

• Consolidate data on the trade andcorrect anomalies in dataproduced by national government

• Establish more Marine Protected

Areas that protect shells andhabitats

• Assist the shell industry and focuson voluntary self-policingactivities

• Conduct basic research on thedistribution, population andbreeding seasons of mollusks,focusing on common species, andreview extraction methods toreduce destructive ones

• Educate the public and sellers onconservation of shells

• Strict enforcement of laws andmore vigilance in post office,customs, police and quarantineservices of DA-BFAR

• Training of fishers on coastalresource management nationwide

• Review and certification ofpolicies on the shell industry withshell industry

• representatives and integration ofproposed management measures

• Seasonal or total bans on certainspecies for population recovery.

THE CURRENT REALITY OF THE PHILIPPINE SHELL INDUSTRY from page 6

8 COASTAL CURRENTS

Silliman University Marine Lab Opens Improved Interpretive Center

Coinciding with the 30th Anniversary celebration of theSilliman University Marine Lab, the Interpretive Cen-ter to improve education in Coastal resource manage-

ment in the Philippines was renovated.The building which formerly served as the

administrative office for the Coastal Resource ManagementProject staff now houses exhibits ranging from a completeskeleton of the endangered dugong, preserved sea turtles,and even has two state-of-the-art Imac Apple computers.Dividing walls, a sink, and wooden bookshelves wereremoved to create a museum-like setting for the growing

collection of educational materials in the Interpretive Center.Visitors continue to arrive from all over the world to

see the exhibits housed here. The Interpretive Center is evenincluded in the Lonely Planet guidebook of the Philippines as afeatured activity for visitors to experience in Dumaguete.

Marine Lab staff plan to keep improving theInterpretive Center to better educate the public of thechallenges and issues facing coastal resources in thePhilippines, as well as highlighting the successes and cuttingedge research conducted by Silliman University Marine Labscientists.- Tommy Schultz, US Peace Corps at SUML

Photo: B. Stockwell Photo: T. Schultz

January 10 - 23, 2005Dr. Ian Johnston with 15 students from Bethel College,

Minnesota, U.S.A., to study human impacts on coral reefsJuly 15 - August 13, 2004Dr. J.B. Tanangonan with four students, Kinki University,

Japan, undergraduate and graduate theses workApril 2 - August 2004Dr. James Nestler, Professor of Biology, Walla Walla

University, Washington, U.S.A.Dr. Alan Verde, Research Associate, Dept. of Zoology,

Oregon State University, Oregon, U.S.A.Dr. Alan Cleveland, Professor, Maine Maritime AcademyHeather Jackson, Corning School of Ocean Studies (assistant

to Dr. Cleveland)

Visitors to Silliman University Marine Laboratory

0100200300400500600700800900

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March 2005 9

The Silliman University Marine Laboratory was subcon-tracted by Tetratech to undertake baseline assessmentsin the Danajon Bank, Bohol, as part of the Fisheries

Improved for Sustainable Harvest (FISH) Project of the De-partment of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (DA-BFAR). The project is funded by the United StatesAgency for International Development (USAID).

Assessments were done in July 2004 in Danajon Bank(see map), the focus area, covering the waters of the targetareas of Talibon, Bien Unido, C.P. Garcia and Ubay. Theseareas were chosen by the FISH project for management

Baseline Assessment of Danajon Bank, Bohol

interventions to effect a positive and tangible change on theground.

A total of six sites were surveyed: Guindakpan MarineSanctuary (inside and outside) in Talibon; HingutananMarine sanctuary (inside and outside) in Bien Unido andBantigui I. proposed marine sanctuary (inside and outside) inC.P. Garcia. Two sites—one outside the target area butwithin the focus area (Basiao, C.P. Garcia) and the other,outside the focus and target areas (Tintiman I., inside themarine sanctuary and outside)—were also surveyed to serveas control.

These were chosen according to their location (in inneror outer reef), availability of secondary information andlength of protection. In addition, the criteria used by theFISH Project were also considered, such as: (a) that thesanctuary was recently established; (b) with a minimum sizeof 10 ha (preferred size is 20 ha or more); (c) no-take zone islikely to be enforced; and (d) good habitat quality.

Reef Fish Density Inside and Adjacent to Selected MPAs,specifically coral reefs

Fish diversity was greatest in the two outer islands(Hingutanan and Bilangbilangan), while the nearshore sitessuch as Tintiman and Basiao had the lowest diversity. Thereefs of the outer islands were less silted and in better health,possibly accounting for the greater diversity.

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Figure 2. Mean reef fish densities for reserves or proposed reserves andneighboring fished reefs (± 1 S.E., n = 6).

Ø

Map of Danajon Double Barrier Reef showing outer barrier (Caubayan) and inner Barrier (Calituban)

to p. 10

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Figure 3. Mean target fish densities for reserves or proposedreserves and neighboring fished reefs (± 1 S.E., n = 6).

1.8 1.03.4

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Figure 4. Total reef fish biomass for reserves or proposed reservesand neighboring fished reefs (± 1 S.E., n= 6)

10 COASTAL CURRENTS

Total fish biomass was greater on the outer reefs. Allestablished and proposed reserve sites had greater biomassthan their neighboring control sites. This suggests thatestablished reserves are receiving some protection and thatcommunities have chosen healthier reefs for proposedreserves. Fish that are sensitive to fishing pressure were rareon most of the reefs. Hingutanan reserve had the highestpiscivore biomass while the Bilangbilangan site was second.However, biomass was very low for Guindakpan andTintiman reserves, suggesting weak enforcement and/orseverely degraded reefs.

Reef Fish Density Inside and Adjacent to Selected MPAS,specifically in Seagrass Beds

The fish fauna in seagrass beds in Danajon weredepauperate and consisted mostly of juveniles. Many of thespecies seen were moving from seagrass beds to adjacentsargassum beds. No significant biomass was recorded.

Undertaking fish census in the area was difficult due tothe following factors: (1) visibility was hindered by the highwater turbidity limiting the area to be censused to one meteron each side of the transect instead of 5 m; (2) the seagrassbeds were very shallow, less than 1 m deep; (3) in someislands (Tintiman), the seagrass beds were narrow and sparseand censusing was abandoned.

Benthic Condition of Coral Reefs Inside and Adjacent toSelected MPAs

A total of 211 hard coral species was documented with205 scleractinian species in 15 families and six non-scleractinians in four families. Fifteen soft corals were alsonoted. Using the four categories in determining the status ofthe reef (Gomez, 1991), Danajon, in general, is classified tohave poor reef condition with 9 (75%) of the 12 sitessurveyed having 0-24.9% hard coral cover. The other threesites were fair with 25-49.9% cover.

Harvestable Invertebrates Inside and Adjacent to Selected MPAsThe macroinvertebrate fauna of the sample sites were

poor in diversity and density. Only a few sites hadeconomically important species like Atrina vexillum (wasay-wasay), Tripneustes gratilla (salawaki), malleus malleus (hammershell) and some holothurians. Their densities, however, arelow, indicating that collection and gleaning occurs within theexisting and proposed MPAs.

Some proposed MPA sites have to be moved to a better

Baseline Assessment of Danajon Bank, Bohol from p. 9

to p. 13Ø

Brian Stockwell

Spinecheek Anemonefish Premnas biaculeatus is uncommonelsewhere but common in Danajon

March 2005 11

Silliman University Marine Laboratory collaborated with theFoundation for the Philippine

Environment in the Bohol MarineTriangle Project (BMPT) to conductbaseline inventory, assessment andmonitoring of the biodiversity in theBohol Marine Triangle. The areaincludes the southern coast of theisland of Panglao (9000 ha) and thesmaller islands of Pamilacan (200 ha)and Balicasag (25 ha). The biggestchunk of the Triangle is water (about92%). (Fig. 1)

The BMTP is funded by theGlobal Environmental Facility andexecuted by the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP). Itis implemented by the Foundation forthe Philippine Environment (FPE).

BMT has diverse ecosystems andhabitats as well as resources. Themangroves are fringing, totaling 253.69ha, which constitute 2% of the totalland area of the BMT. The biggestforest is in Danao, Panglao. Balicasag

and Pamilacan have no mangroveforests.

Overall, Sonneratia alba andRhizophora stylosa were the dominantmangrove species in the BMT in termsof mean basal area and density. In theBMT, most of the intertidal regionswhere mangroves grow generally havesandy substrates and are frequentlyinundated by the tides.. Sonneratia albaand R. stylosa usually grow in sandy/sandy-muddy substrates and are able totolerate high salinities and frequentinundation.

However, coastal residents inDoljo, Danao and Poblacion Panglaohave noted that the growth ofRhizophora is negatively correlated withincreasing water depth, is the deeperthey are the slower the growth, thelower the survival and pest problemscaused by oysters and barnacles usuallyoccur. Reforestation should not becarried out in areas where the waterdepth and inundation frequency isunfavorable for seedling survival and

development.A common problem is the cutting

of trees and branches. Cutting,regardless of scale, is illegal and violatesRA 7161. The accumulation ofdetritus/debris on seedlings, barnacle(“sisi”) infestation, shifting sand andtrampling by gleaners are causes ofmortality in newly establishedRhizophora plantations. A problem inPoblacion Dauis is the accumulation oftrash in the back-magrove area, in thestands directly across from TagbilaranCity. Trash is a potential danger toseedlings as it may either smother themor cause direct physical damage.

Priority should be placed on theprotection and enhancement of theexisting mangrove forests in the BMT.Enhancement planting is more cost-effective since seedling survival willlikely be higher due to the shelterprovided by the existing stand.

Seagrass beds are the largestnearshore ecosystem, totalling 2,555.96ha. They form narrow strips in thenearshore, except in Panglao Bay wherethe seagrass bed covers the whole Bayand total 1,928.04 ha. The mostdiverse were in Bil-isan and Doljo, eachharboring eight species. All the othershad seven species, except for BalicasagIsland which had only three species.

The BMT also contains extensivecoral reef habitats totaling 554.05ha. Eleven of the 15 stations are

of fair condition (25-49.9% hard coralcover). Coral diversity is high with 215species reported, including the semi-pre-cious blue coral Heliopora coerulea andTubipora musica.

Sargassum beds generally occupythe area between the seagrass bed andcoral reef, except in Balicasag I. The

Assessment and Inventory of Biodiversity in the Bohol Marine Triangle

to p. 12

Fig. 1 Map of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands consituting Bohol Marine Triangle

Ø

12 COASTAL CURRENTS

Assessment and Inventory of Biodiversity in the Bohol Marine Triangle continued from p. 11

dominant species are Hormophysa cuneiformis, Sargassum spp.and Turbinaria ornata. Overall hectarage occupied bySargassum is 408.32 ha. However, in all these sites, theecotones between ecosystems were hard to distinguish andwere thus, classified as “mixed” beds. For example, theecotone between a seagrass bed and Sargassum is classified as“mixed seagrass and Sargassum” which was found in thewestern part of Dauis and Pamilacan, whereas on thenortheastern part of Dauis was a relatively huge “mixedsand, seagrass, corals, Sargassum” community measuringabout 140.48 ha. There were other algal communitiescategorized as “Algae” consisting mostly of the brownfoliose alga, Padina.

The surrounding deep sea environment ranges from 32to 57 meters deep and provides migratory route for whalesand dolphins as well as a habitat for these species and avariety of other marine life. Eight of the 22 known speciesof marine mammals in the Philippines have been confirmedto be present in the area.

Primary threat to the existing populations is fishing(direct and indirect, i.e. as bycatch of commercialfishers). The populations, especially those in Balicasag

area, are constantly disturbed by big ships. Garbage, espe-cially plastic that is harmful to marine turtles, was observed.Bottlenose and spinner dolphins are the most frequentlysighted species. More surveys are needed to ascertain relativeabundance, site fidelity and catch incidence of cetaceanspecies in the area.

Twelve marine sanctuaries have been declared while twoare being proposed. These are Pamilacan in Baclayon,Balicasag, Danao, Tawala, Bolod, Doljo, Bil-isan, Poblacionand Lo-oc in Panglao and San Isidro/Dao, Bingag andTabalong in Dauis (Fig. 1).

As to finfishes, Baclayon had the fewest number ofspecies recorded (65) while Dauis had the highest (125). Thisdisparity could be attributed to the larger reef areas in Dauisand Panglao. These two municipalities had a larger numberof coral reef species compared to Baclayon.

A total of 309 species of reef fish was recorded, withTawala and Balicasag having the greatest diversity, 163 and120, respectively. Densities of species were greatest in theBalicasag reserve (56) and least in the Tabalong Non-reserve(28). In most cases the non-reserve sites had a slightly lowerdensity of species.

A total of 108 invertebrate species and one vertebratespecies were observed in the surveyed sites. The mostcommon phylum represented in terms of density and

number of species was Echinodermata. The sea urchinEchinometra mathei was the most numerous, reaching amaximum density of 209 organisms per 100 m-2.

The most diverse echinoderm group represented werethe sea stars (Cl. Echinozoa), with 15 species, and seacucumbers and synaptids (Cl. Holothuroidea), with 16species. Mollucs were also common, with 18 species ofprosobrachs, six opisthobranchs, 10 bivalves and onecephalopod.

The coral predator, Acanthaster planci, was observedwithin the sanctuaries of Bil-isan, Biking and Pamilacan. InBiking, six crown-of-thorns seastar (COTS) was recorded atthe shallow reef edge. Drupella was also observed in Bil-isanand Pamilacan. These sites need to be monitored for futureintervention activities like physical removal of COTS.

In some sites, gleaners were observed collecting withinthe sanctuary. Some people in Bili-isan, Doljo and Danaowere asked the location of their sanctuary, but they did notknow exactly where it was. These areas had no physicaldelineation of the sanctuary and this may have contributed toits poor protection. In these sites, local officials must bemobilized for the protection of their MPA and locals need tobe re-oriented with regard t their sanctuary.

Enforcement of MPA was still strong at PamilacanIsland but it was mentioned that the locals wereplanning to move their sanctuary to another location.

This was confirmed during informal conversations withlocals during the sampling time. It is possible that the localsat Pamilacan now realize that the sanctuary has a significantdensity and biomass of marine organisms and moving thesanctuary may enable them to fish the resources in the area.

Acrobatic spinner dolphin sighted in Pamilacan I.

Ø

E. Sabater

to p. 13

March 2005 13

If such move were initiated atPamilacan, it is strongly recommendedthat the locals be must convincedotherwise.

There is an urgent need toaddress the high density of Acanthasteras Balicasag Island with the initiationof monitoring program and regularremoval of these seastars.

A total of 78 bird speciesbelonging to 28 families were recorded.Of these, 29 species are shorebirds and35 are terrestrial. Panglao Island hastwo endemic shorebirds which wereobserved to occur in the mangroveareas of Barangay Danao, thePhilippine Mallard Anas luzonica and thePhilippine Banded Crake Rallinaeurizonoides.

The overall bird record forPanglao Island is thirteen species ofPhilippine endemics. Seven were

observed in the present study. Theseincluded the Pink-necked Pigeon Treronvernans vernans, White-earned BrownDove Phapitreron leucotis, Red Turtle-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica humilis, thePhilippine Coucal Centropus viridids,Philippine Tailorbird Orthotomuscastaneiceps and the Mangrove FlycathcerCynornis rufigastra.

The inland sea of BarangayDanao and its surrounding vegetationare the two habitats with the highestbird species diversity and abundancefor both shore and birds. This resultshows that these areas are good placesfor bird watching activities. Thenumber of visitors at one time for thisbird watching activity should be limited(a maximum of ten) so as not todisturb the animals. This way birdwatching can be sustained.

Assessment of Biodiversity in the Bohol Marine Triangle from page 12

coastal development, habitat loss andboat traffic.

Calumpong added that theprotection of the surviving fragmentedpopulations of dugongs is paramountto the overall protection of the speciesin Philippine waters. The islandssurrounding Tañon Strait and theVisayan Sea (Negros, Panay, Cebu,Masbate and Leyte) are all denselypopulated, posing numerous threats tothis fragmented population.

It is therefore urgent, she said, toidentify these threats and define thedugong habitat so it could be protectedfrom further degradation. In addition,defining the extent of the dugong’sdistribution would help in themanagement and planning of searoutes for high speed superferries thatare increasing in number.

She also said that from a globalperspective, finding a thrivingpopulation of dugongs in centralPhilippines would be important in theunderstanding of its ecology andsurvival.

Dr. Calumpong and Dr. Estacionwill do the seagrass habitat survey,while Dr. Perrin and Dr. Dolar(professors at the Scripps Institution ofOceanography, University of CaliforniaSan Diego) will do aerial and boatsurveys of dugongs.

Dugong assessment from page 3

Baseline Assessment of Danajon Bank, Bohol from page 10

location. In Bantigui Island, theproposed site is used as a navigationallane and docking area and it is wheremany people are settled. The outsidesite surveyed had higher diversitycompared to the proposed MPA site.

Collection of Portunus pelagicus isintensive in some islands of DanajonBank. Although the crabs are roughlysorted to sizes, the smaller crabs arenot returned to sea but sold in theisland. Gravid females and brooderswere also collected. Research needs tobe conducted for proper managementand an educational campaign conductedto sustain this crab fishery.

Generally, the sites visited hadpoor visibility and some areas arehighly silted. This problem has to beaddressed. Floating garbage was acommon sight, particularly in

Guindakpan and Tintiman islands.Proper waste disposal is important tomaintain the health of their reefs andthe people.

Brian Stockwell

Panther grouper (juvenile) Cromliptes altivelisin Bilangbilangan has become rare due to highdemand for live fish and aquarium trades

14 COASTAL CURRENTS

DISTRIBUTION, COLORMORPHOLOGY ANDMORPHOMETRICS OF THE TROPICAL SEA STAR

from page 5

FishBase UpdateOne experience of SUML in

developing a fish reference collection is theutilization of a standardized database usingthe FishBase as a result of the two-daytraining by Mr. Rudy Reyes of theWorldFish Center last June 2003. Data werealso sent to the WorldFish Center and cannow be accessed at www.fishbase.org.ph/museums/sumlsearchmuseum.cfm.Presently, SUML ranks second to NationalMuseum in terms of number of cataloguedspecimens with a record of 2,252specimens belonging to 548 species in 112families. – Clarissa Reboton, SUMLCurator

Photo: B. Stockwell

revealed that one of the sites (Doljo) isdistinctly different from the rest interms of colormorph distribution. Thissite was also found to have the greatesttotal mean density of P. nodosus (46.00+ 28.57 indv/500 m-2 ). A cladisticanalysis was also done on the differentcolormorphs and results suggested thatthe colormorphs are monophyletic.

Morphometrics of the specieswas measured by the ratio of the raydiameter to the disc diameter. The mainsize of P. nodosus was found to be2.6785 + 0.0025 on coral rubble,2.6336 + 0.0038 on sand, and 2.6939 +0.0013. Results of the comparison ofthe mean size of the sea stars amongdifferent substrates did not differsignificantly from each other (prob. =0.132364). Results of the correlationanalysis to determine if morphometricsaffects colormorphology revealed no

correlation (r=0.067, prob.=0.056).The results suggest that the type

of substrate does influence thedistribution of colormorphs in thearea. However, a direct relationshipbetween the two and the degree ofinfluence of substrate tocolormorphology cannot be assumedsince there are other environmentalparameters which have not been takeninto consideration in this study. Furtherresearch on this matter isrecommended. The inter-site analysison the colormorph distribution alsosuggests that the difference lies amongthe different sites; thus,colormorphology is more likely to bedetermined by genetics. The results alsosuggest that substrate does not exertany significant influence on themorphometrics of P. nodosus.

SUML Museum

• SUML papers on marine reservesalone have been cited 817 times instudies of international standing.

• The Laboratory has become wellknown, attracting national andinternational scientists, students andvisitors, and increasing knowledge

SU Marine Lab marks 30th anniversary from page 3

about marine resources andenvironment in the Philippines.

• The Apo Island model of marineconservation is featured in thegigantic Shedd Aquarium in Chicago,Ill.

• Bethel College in the U.S. holds

“tropical expedition” classes in theSUML, with Marine Lab scientists aslecturers.

• Marine protected areas have beenestablished in the Philippines andabroad from the SUML model

• The new law on endangered speciesis based on SUML research

• R.A. 8550 (Fisheries Law) is basedpartly on SUML research

• Fish yields around marine reservesincreased by as much as 20 tons perkilometer per year and conservationof biodiversity has given rise totourism.

• Coastal Resource Managementprograms have been added to thecurricular offerings at Silliman

Alcala said in the future theSUML should widen its internationallinkages and broaden its program withnew experts in oceanography,ichthyology, natural products chemistry,and deep sea studies. --Celia E. Acedo

for their generosity and for theirsensitivity and receptiveness to theneeds in the Philippines. He consideredthe donation a welcome developmentthat supports efforts to safeguardPhilippine’s coral reefs.

Dauin town Mayor RodrigoAlanano also expressed the town’sgratitude to the Reef Gala, andpromised to carry out the purpose forwhich the donation was given. Herecognized SUML as a partner in theirmarine conservation projects andhighly emphasized the community’s

Apo I. receives $10,000; SUML to administer funds from page 2

cooperation in establishing the world-renowned Apo Island that it is now.

In relation to the community’scooperation, Dr. Calumpong said thatin her conversation with the architectof Shedd, she was told that Apo Islandwas chosen “not just because of thediversity of its reef but also the effortsbeing made by the people of Apo andDauin to conserve and manage theirreefs, how the local communitiesmanage their reefs.” – Mark RayganGarcia/SU Net News, Jan 22, 2004

March 2005 15

Restoring the Roots of Bais Bay: A Mangrove... from page 16

The Silliman University MarineLaboratory (SUML) accommodated agroup of U.S. scientists who arrived inDumaguete last summer to conducttwo research studies: 1) the biology oftwo locally found sea cucumbers, thePearsonothuria graeffei and Holothuriaedulis, and 2) the interchange of carbonand nitrogen between clownfish andtheir sea anemone hosts.

The first research project washeaded by Dr. James Nestler, professorof biology at Walla Walla University,Washington, U.S.A., and Dr. AlanVerde, research associate, Oregon StateUniversity. They were assisted by fourgraduate students, Robert Wheeling,Kara Cromwell, Andrea Wolffing andRobin Dennison.

The second project wasconducted by Dr. Ann Cleveland andHeather Jackson of Maine MaritimeAcademy – Corning School of OceanStudies and Dr. Alan Verde of theDepartment of Zoology, Oregon StateUniversity.

Subject of the first study was seacucumbers found in the Agan-anMarine Reserve in Sibulan, NegrosOriental.

The researchers said seacucumbers are important componentsof many tropical coral reefs, yet theyhave not been studied extensively and

U.S. scientists conduct study on local sea cucumbers and tropical reef fish

their role in coral reef environment isnot well understood.

This study had three majorcomponents, namely:

1) Recycling of biological nutrients bysea cucumbers. The research involvesmeasuring the concentration ofphosphate and ammonium in thesediment and in wastes produced by seacucumbers to determine the ability ofsea cucumbers to recycle thesenutrients. Initial results showed thatthe concentration of both phosphateand ammonium released by seacucumbers are 10 to 20 times higherthan in the material that these animalseat, the researchers said.

2) Daily activity patterns of seacucumbers. The researchers said theywere studying the daily activity cyclesof sea cucumbers to determine whenthey are actively recycling the nutrients.Early results showed that Pearsonothuriagraeffei actively feeds and respires duringdaylight hours then stops moving atnight. Holothuria edulis shows theopposite pattern.

3) Metabolic rates of sea cucumbers.The cucumbers would be placed in anunderwater respirometer at two-hourperiods each during the day and atnight to measure their oxygenconsumption in the naturalenvironment.

Subject of the second study wasthe clownfish, popularly known as“Nemo” and described by the scientistsas “the most endearing of all tropicalreef fish,” and their host anemone.

The scientists said, “This projectwill use tracers to examine therelationship between the host anemoneand resident clownfish in capturing andrecycling carbon and nitrogen from theenvironment.” They explained that theclownfish is caught from the coral reefsof the Philippines and traded byaquarists and hobbyists.

“Stress associated with theremoval of the clownfish from theirhost anemone may severely affect thehealth of the anemone-algalrelationship that represents a significantportion of reef productivity.”

The results of the study couldlead to a better understanding of howto regulate clownfish collection andmodify existing collection permits andquotas more extensively to reducestress, they said.

associated species, the largest seagrasscover in Negros Oriental, as well as thepresence of whales and dolphins, thisintact ecosystem is clearly a veryimportant life-sustaining habitat formarine creatures and humancommunities living along the TañonStrait.

Bais Bay, like most parts of thecountry, has experienced a decline infish catch as mangrove areas becomesparse. This reforestation project wasstarted in 2004 to address this

problem. The reforestation is expectedto effectively reduce sedimentation,improve the productivity of nurserygrounds for valuable fish species andprotect the shorelines.

A mangrove nursery is also beingestablished to host various species ofmangrove for study and planting in thereforestation project. An educationcampaign teaches coastal dwellers theimportance of mangroves in relation toa healthy marine environment.---WWF

C O A S TA LC O A S TA LC urrentsCOASTAL CURRENTS is published by theSilliman University Marine Laboratory,Bantayan, Dumaguete City, PhilippinesFor more information, contact:Hilconida P. Calumpong, Ph.D., Directore-mail: suml-lib@su.edu.ph.Fax: (6335) 225-2500Phone: (6335) 225-4608Mobile Phone: 09195998487Assistant Director: Janet S. Estacion, Ph.D.Laboratory Manager: Julieta A. Luchavez, B.S.E.Curator: Clarissa Reboton, B.S.Librarian: Analisa B. Escobar, B.S. Ed-L.S.Business Manager: Pacita B. Raterta

Contributors: Pablina L. Cadiz, Hilconida P.Calumpong, Janet S. Estacion, Adonis S. Floren,Mark Raygan Garcia, Jasper Maypa, ClarissaReboton, Rebecca Schmocker, Tommy Schultz,Brian Stockwell, World Wildlife Fund

Editor: Celia E. Acedo

Printed by Silliman Press

16 COASTAL CURRENTS

Restoring the Roots of Bais Bay: A Mangrove Reforestation Project

Silliman University Marine Labora-tory researchers Pablina Cadizand Renclar Jadloc have just

completed mapping of proposedmangrove reforestation areas in BaisBay, Negros Oriental.

Their work is part of an ongoingproject entitled, Restoring the Roots ofBais Bay. The project seeks to

to page 15

rehabilitate the once lush but nowbarren areas of mangrove in Bais Bayand plant approximately 50 hectares ofvarious mangrove species in keylocations around the Bay.

The project is being undertakenby the city government of Bais incooperation with the provincialgovernment of Negros Oriental, U.S.

Peace Corps, DENR ProvincialEnvironment and Natural ResourcesOffice, WWF and Silliman UniversityMarine Laboratory with financialsupport from Tortuga Foundation.

Bais Bay is reported to be thebiggest and most productive estuarinearea in Tañon Strait in terms of marinerichness. With more than 33 mangrovespecies and 10 families of mangrove

Map of Bais Bay.Sites suitable for mangrove reforestation in green.

Talabong Mangrove Forest Reserve and Wildlife Refuge.Note egrets (“Talabong’) on tree canopy.Mangrove nursery inside

Talabong Mangrove Forest Reserve. (Photos by T. Schultz)

Ø

Photos by T. Schultz