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Coral reefs in the Pag-asa Island. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

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Coral reefs in the Pag-asa Island

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1724481334918082424_coral reefs.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Coral reefs in the Pag-asa Island. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Coral reefs in the Pag-asa Island. <em>Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>PAG-ASA ISLAND — Only “less than five or ten percent” of the corals in Pag-asa Island and its cays— low islands or reefs — are alive, a marine scientist from the University of the Philippines (UP) has revealed. </p><p>Professor Jonathan Anticamara said based on their scientific survey in Sandy Cay 1, 2, and 3 in Pag-asa Island conducted in March, findings showed that most of the corals they found were crushed or dead. </p><p>“Overall na findings ko – kung titingnan natin ang representative pictures ng transect natin. Most ng lugar dito, marami ang basag na corals, marami na ang patay na corals. Maliliit na lang ang buhay na corals. Yung mga corals dati na malalaki sila, karamihan sa kanila patay na,” Anticamara said during his briefing with the media in Pag-asa Island last Thursday. </p><p>“Overall, degraded talaga ang condition. Tingin ko nga, less than 5 percent or less than 10 percent na lang yung buhay na corals na makikita dito sa Pag-asa Island tsaka sa pag-asa cays. ‘Yun ang major na nakita ko which was unexpected para sa akin,” he said. </p><p>Despite this, there are still extensive branching of live corals at the side of Pag-asa Island, according to the expert, noting its “colonial” and resilient nature.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/8/21/cyanide-fishing-ano-ang-epekto-sa-mga-mangingisda-sa-pag-asa-island-1459">Cyanide fishing, ano ang epekto sa mga mangingisda sa Pag-asa Island?</a></div><p>“Ang corals ay kaya niyang mabuhay forever almost. Kaya nilang lumaki nang todo kung hindi sila pinapatay… Magdidikit lang sila ng sarili nila na bago dikit dikit. Overtime. So halos immortal ang corals kung hindi sila pinapatay,” he said. </p><p>The expert said pollution and climate change could have caused the corals to die and this situation is widespread. </p><p>“Ang pagkamatay ng corals ngayon ay malakawan. Simula Zambales hanggang Escoda. Extensively patay. Pag ganoon ang pagkamatay ng corals, hindi yun ma-attribute sa localized disturbance tulad ng presence ng barko. Posible yun na malawakang rason tulad ng climate change,” he said. </p><p>“Mas mataas ang probability na ang rason ng pagkamatay ay dahil sa climate,” he said. </p><div><strong>LOWER FISH CATCH</strong> </div><p>In the bigger picture, Anticamara said dead corals can have a “very huge” implication in terms of the fisherfolk’s livelihood and food security. </p><p>Based on his publications, he said Palawan remains as the country’s most productive region in terms of fish production. In fact, the expert said fish production in the Philippines already “went down by 80 percent.” </p><p>“Kung ganyan ngayon ang habitat ng mga isda, at ang mga maliliit na isda mawawala na sila. Ano na ang kakainin ng malalaking isda? Mawawala din ang malalaking isda… posible talaga na may knock-on effect – ang pagkamatay ng corals ay magreresulta sa pagkawala ng pagkain tsaka bahay ng maliliit na isda,” he said. </p><p>“Ang pagkakawala ngayon ng maliliit na isda, pagkakawala ng malalaking isda. Ang pagkakawala ng malalaking isda ay pagkawala ng pagkaing Pilipino. Parang ganoon ang sunod-sunod. Kahit na ang tingin ko ang mga Pilipino di nila nakikita ang corals, mga bahura na mahalaga, dahil hindi kinakain, hindi hina-harvest, pero ang pagkakawala ng corals na ito ang resulta nito ay pagkakawala ng pagkain ng mga isda na siyang madalas na pagkain ng mga Pilipino sa coastal area,” he said. </p><p>Larry Hugo, the head of fisherfolk in Pag-asa Island, is already feeling its impact. Hugo said catching fish on the island is difficult because of two problems – dead corals and Chinese and Vietnamese vessels. </p><p>“Actually humina na talaga ang huling isda dito sa Pag-asa dahil sa ilegal na activities ng mga Vietnamese – cyanide, dinamita. Nagkamatay na ang mga corals natin. Pati yung mga tirang isda. Kakaunti na lang ang mga isda dito,” said Hugo. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/4/pag-asa-cays-in-degraded-state-over-new-island-building-activities-study-1431">Pag-asa cays in ‘degraded state’ over new island-building activities: study</a></div><p>“Noong isang araw, nasa dalawang kilo’t kalahati na lang. Wala na. Hindi katulad ng dati na isang banyera yan sa isang araw o sa magdamag,” he said. </p><p>Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, vowed to support the scientific surveys in the area. </p><p>“PCG and BFAR basically support the recommendation of Dr. Anticamara. This is the reason bakit ang BFAR laging nagdadala dito ng marine scientists para bigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating marine scientists na aralin, tukuyin ang dahilan sa paglawak ng ganitong phenomenon,” he said. </p><p>“It is very difficult for our vessels – whether Coast Guard or BFAR – to support our marine scientist dahil patuloy naman tayong hina-harass every time we conduct such scientific study,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Only “less than five or ten percent” of the corals in Pag-asa Island and its cays— low islands or reefs — are alive, a marine scientist from the University of the Philippines (UP) has revealed.</p>

Only “less than five or ten percent” of the corals in Pag-asa Island and its cays— low islands or reefs — are alive, a marine scientist from the University of the Philippines (UP) has revealed.

Around 90-95 percent of corals in Pag-asa Island dead - UP scientist

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Around 90-95 percent of corals in Pag-asa Island dead - UP scientist

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 24, 2024 02:36 PM PHT

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Pag-asa island

West Philippine Sea

China

corals

coral bleaching

Pag-asa cays

coral reefs

Jonathan Anticamara

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