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REEF Monitoring Training On Apo Island

      From July 8 to 13,2002, SUAKCREM Researcher Brian Stockwell assisted by Marie Pher Alemaida conducted a training workshop in monitoring coral reefs on Apo Island. The training was funded by the UNEP – Apo Project. Nine participants, who are members of the Bantay Dagat (Guardians of the Sea) volunteers, participated in the monitoring program. The goals of the training project was to train members of the bantay dagat in simple, low-technology methods in coral reef monitoring, implement a semi-annual monitoring program, and educate the community on the importance of monitoring/conservation of marine resources. The three components of the coral reef community were included in the monitoring: fish, coral cover and selected invertebrates.
A fish visual census method modified from Uychiaoco et al. (2001) was used. A 50 meter transect line with two observers on either side recording only the fish within five meters from the transect line was used, thus giving a unit area of 500m2. Only target fishes were recorded and grouped into families rather than determining species. Fish were also grouped into four size classes (1-10 cm, 11-20cm, 21-30 cm, and >31 cm).

The participants of fish and coral monitoring training on Apo island are getting ready for a dry run.

      A simplified point intercept method was used to estimate benthic cover. The major benthic life form was recorded every 0.5 m along the same 50 m transect. The benthic life forms included were live hard coral, soft coral, dead coral, dead coral with algae, algae, rock/stone, sand and other animals.

      Only a selected group of invertebrates were censused. One observer recorded the numbers of invertebrates only on one side of the transect giving a unit area of 250m2. The invertebrates recorded were diadema urchins, giant clams, crown-of-thorns starfish, lobsters, tritons, banded coral shrimps, sea cucumbers and pencil urchins.

      Slateboards, pencils, and transect lines were distributed to the participants. After a dry run using fish and invertebrate visuals, the participants monitored the marine sanctuary and the control site, Kan-uran beach (a non-sanctuary). Data from the monitoring included identification and mean number of fish per size class, average number of target fish per 500m2, number/class of fish, number/class of corals and number/class of invertebrates.

      In the closing ceremonies of the program, certificates were given to the participants. Dr. Angel C. Alcala also led a discussion with the community about the differences between the data gathered from sanctuary and non-sanctuary areas. At the same time, the participants decided to continue with the monitoring twice a year, during the amihan and habagat seasons.
The trained group performed another monitoring activity two weeks later. This was sponsored by the owner of one of the two resorts on the island.


Workshops Organized and Conducted

      A workshop on the effects of marine reserves was held in Dapitan City primarily for coastal barangay captains of the city on July 21, 2001. It was well attended. All except one barangay captain (Aliguay barangay captain) were present. The Chairman of the Environment Committee of the city of Dapitan gave the opening remarks. The SUAKCREM director explained how reserves enhance fish catches of fishers and preserve marine biodiversity. The City Agriculturist Cyril Patangan and his assistant Elda Gimena organized it.

      Another workshop on coastal resources management was held on the campus of Surigao State College of Technology at Malimono, Surigao del Norte on August 22-24, 2002, with officials of government agencies and the municipality of Malimono, Surigao del Norte Province, teachers of the state college and other fishery officials of the province. It was organized by President Teresita T. Tumapon and Jaime Puracan. A marine reserve will soon be established in Malimono by the local government unit led by Mayor Clemente Sandigan Jr. of Malimono and Jaime Puracan of the fisheries school of the College, which has been conducting an information and education campaign on coastal and marine resource conservation.


SUAKCREM CO’s Participate in Family Planning Workshop

      Last September 2-6, community organizers of SUAKCREM participated in the workshop “Training of Trainers on Community-Based Integrated Reproductive Health and Coastal Resource Management”. The workshop, organized by PATH Foundation, was held at The Habitat Hotel, Dumaguete City. Dr. Enrique Jose Hernandez and Dr. Justacio Lapitan of the PATH Foundation facilitated the workshop. Doctors, nurses, midwives and community organizers from Bohol, Dauin, Cebu and Siquijor and Palawan participated in this activity.

      The general objective of the training was to aid Community Health Outreach Workers in understanding the link of reproductive health with coastal resource management, and in providing reproductive health services and education to coastal communities. The integration of reproductive health to coastal resource management is a good strategy to prevent the rapid increase of population especially in coastal areas.

      The workshop was unique since the participants, after being grouped and given the instructions and materials, were the ones who presented the various topics included in the program. Aside from being taught the importance of family planning, the participants were also taught the different contraceptives available, the back-up methods to prevent pregnancy and the communication skills for teaching family planning to the people.

      The community organizers of SUAKCREM are now planning to hold family planning seminars in the communities involved in coastal resource management.


New Research Projects

      A new SU-AKCREM research project that will use genetic markers to determine the connectivity of three fish species in the Mindanao Sea has begun. The project aims to find out if populations of these selected species belong to just one or several breeding populations in the Mindanao Sea. This information will be useful in planning their conservation. One of the species is a common food fish, a caesionid or fusilier, known in the local language as “solid.” The other two are small reef fishes to serve as controls. The project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Dan Lindstrom, Visiting Professor, who heads the newly established Genetics Laboratory at the Silliman Marine Laboratory. ICLARM has contributed the amount of five thousand US dollars to this project. The Bureau of Agricultural Research has approved a grant for this project, effective 2003. Paulina Aspilla of the Chemistry Department is the Principal Investigator.

      The other new project in progress is the ICRAN-UNEP training of community members of Apo to monitor the fish populations at the reserve. The study aims to demonstrate the spillover effect of the Apo marine reserve.


New Extension Programs

     The Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) Foundation Trustee Dr. Leona de Agnes and PATH Director for Programs Dr. Joan Castro discussed with Director Alcala, the Foundation’s plan to support a program on women’s reproductive health in coastal areas in the Mindanao Sea. This plan will complement the CRM programs in the fishing communities. The CRM projects are directed at conservation and protection of biodiversity and fishery resources. Women’s health and family planning activities are expected to reduce the threats to these resources.

     Scientists at SUAKCREM will participate in academic and research programs with James Cook University and the Memorial University in Newfoundland in Canada. The details of this collaboration are being studied now.