SUAKCREM holds commemorative lecture on marine protected areas, celebrates life of nat’l scientist

The Silliman University – Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management organizes a commemorative lecture by Dr. Garry Russ at the Audio-Visual Theater 1 of the Instructional Media and Technology Center on November 28, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Titled, “Establishment of the Sumilon Island and the Apo Island Marine Protected areas and a Celebration of the Life of Professor Emeritus Angel C. Alcala,” the lecture celebrates the 50^th year of the first inception meeting of the Sumilon Island marine protected area (MPA) and the 40^th year of the Apo Island protected landscape and seascape annual surveys of fish coral communities. It also highlights the contributions of National Scientist Dr. Angel C. Alcala, who is regarded as the Father of MPAs in the Philippines.

Alcala pioneered the No-Take Marine Reserves (NTMR) as a conservation strategy for coral reefs in some parts of Sumilon and Apo islands. NTMRs in the islands were managed by the university from 1974-1984 in Sumilon and from 1982-1994 in Apo.

Russ, a professor at the James Cook University in Australia, has been Silliman’s collaborator since 1983. He shared a Pew Fellowship with Alcala that enabled them to compare fish populations in five existing or new reserves in the Philippines with catch rates in the surrounding areas. This allowed them to assess “spillover” potential and the factors that improve it. They also worked closely with local groups in charge of managing and safeguarding several marine reserves and sanctuaries. He has been conferred a Doctor of Science degree honoris causa by Silliman University.