Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project: May 2006 update
Added to website: 02 July 2006
Project Brief
Aim
The Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP) is a three-year collaborative project (2002–2005), to survey the coral reefs of Sogod Bay. The programme provides training and conservation education opportunities for local Filipinos, as part of an integrated programme to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout the region.
Location
Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, South-Eastern Philippines.
Project Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partnership with the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc (PRRCFI).
Marine Science Programme
Baseline SurveysBackground: Our baseline surveying programme is designed to gather data about the biological and morphological standing of Sogod Bay. These data are combined with information on human and natural impacts on the reefs, along with oceanographic data, to ultimately produce a Geographical Information System ‘map’ of the various habitats of the bay. It is like a ‘stock-take’ of the current marine resources, which is being produced to provide policymakers and concerned institutions with information necessary to effectively manage those resources. To date, the northern end of Sogod Bay has been surveyed, and the remainder of the project will concentrate on the south and Limasawa Island. If you would like more information on our surveying rationale or methodology, please don’t hesitate to contact our Project Scientist.
We have less many volunteers this month and have concentrated our efforts on Southern Limasawa, around Magallanes, which is a new area for us. The reef there seems to in fine health after last years Crown of Thorns (COTS) seastar out break. COTS are a fast breading species which feed on corals, at a rate of approximately their own body size per day, leaving the coral white and dead. We have worked closely with Limasawa Barangays previously to remove large numbers of COTS from the reef. On 1 dive we collected about 800 of them. The reef now seems to be free from excessive numbers and in fine health.
Although few surveys have been finished, many were started. This month also we have a large group of volunteers, with 4 times as many survey teams available. This should mean the completion of many of the surveys around Limasawa.
ReefCheck
Background:Based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), ReefCheck is the name of both the world’s largest coral reef monitoring network and of the common methodology used, allowing the comparison of results from various locations worldwide. Although less detailed than CCC’s baseline surveys, the ReefCheck method is effective for monitoring changes in reef health over time. In order to do this, we mark the survey ‘transect’ with metal stakes, to ensure that repeat surveys are in the same place each time. These stakes are sited in rock, dead coral or sand for minimal disruption of the fragile reef system. CCC is proud to be a major contributing member of ReefCheck. Check out their site at www.ReefCheck.org
During the month April, we completed 8 Reef Check Surveys around Ampo reef and Buenavista M.P.A. We have a student from England joining us next month to conduct more Reef Check surveys and write her Masters Dissertation Project on the results found over the last 18 months. The data will provide accurate assessment of the coral coverages and impacts made to the reefs at Ampo and ‘Medicare’ in Padre Burgos.
Education
We also have with us now, Karen Holman, an education consultant from England, who will be working with the Department of Education, local and Provincial Governments to increase education of reef ecology and awareness in local schools. The project will involve working with teachers in Southern Leyte and school children in what will be called the ‘SEASTARS Award Scheme’. It is a 4 level scheme which will encourage teachers and schools to include environmental awareness in their classes and also to get children out on local reefs surveying impacts in their areas. Each active child will be awarded a ‘Reef Ranger’ certificate and information pack on corals and fishes found in Southern Leyte waters. I’m sure Karen will be informing many of you personally and working towards a brighter future for the younger generation.Site move
Our time in Tangka’an is coming to an end! Our surveying here is nearly complete, with only Limasawa left to finish and nearly all of West Sogod Bay and Tangka’an Point completed, means that CCC will be looking for a new site. I’m pleased to announce that we have agreed to stay in S. Leyte a further 3 years, at least, to complete our work in Sogod Bay but to also increase our surveying on the Pacific side of Panoan Island and Leyte. Therefore we are looking to move sites across the bay to the Lilo’an area to continue our surveying efforts in the interest of protecting further reefs and setting up more MPAs. As yet we are in discussion about the specific site but we look to move towards the end of August.On this note we would like to extend our thankyous towards the people of Padre Burgos and Tangka’an for all the help over the last 18 months, but more of that when the time comes!!!
Interesting/Unusual Sightings
I am very excited to report that that some major sightings have occurred in the surrounding areas by CCC volunteers, staff and its local friends.Our main sighting is a pair of young Bumphead Parrotfish who seem to have taken residence on our local Ampo reef. Bumpheads Bulbomentopon muricatum are a protected and endangered species which can grow to 1.5m and around 50kg, however over-fishing of the species in asia for the live trade to Japan has meant numbers have greatly reduced. The fish bites of large chunks of coral to eat the algae (seaweed) which grows on it and then excretes a fine sand which helps make up our beautiful beaches! These 2 fish joined us about 2 weeks ago and have been sighted every day since.
A young Napoleon Wrasse has also been spotted on Ampo but is suspected to live in the Buenavista MPA area further north. This large fish eats crustacea such as crabs and lobsters and again in protected by law due to over-fishing; its large lips are a delicacy in northern Asia (Japan, China …).
Both these sightings mean that Ampo reef is thriving and hopefully the introduction of these larger fish on the reef will only help to improve the overall health of the reef.
A blue spotted Angelfish Chaetodonoplus caeruleopunctatus was also seen on Padre Burgos reef. I spotted this fish previously off North Limasawa, but failed to get a good look and positively identify it. However, this time a positive ID was made. Previously this fish is unrecorded in Southern Leyte and was thought to be very rare living only in waters around Cebu, but this sighting suggests it could be found throughout the central Visayas. A great find for this species!
