Challenge 04: Develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy

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Ocean Decade

Challenge 04:
Develop a sustainable and equitable ocean economy

Generate knowledge, support innovation and multi-sectoral partnerships and develop solutions for equitable, resilient and sustainable development of the ocean economy under changing environmental, social and climate conditions.

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Spatial planning insights for Philippine coral reef conservation using larval connectivity networks
Pata, Patrick R.; Yñiguez, Aletta T. (Frontiers Media SA, 2021-10-06)
The marine habitats of the Philippines are recognized to be some of the most biodiverse systems globally yet only 1.7% of its seas are designated as marine protected areas (MPAs) with varying levels of implementation. Many of these MPAs were established based on local-scale conservation and fisheries objectives without considering larger-scale ecological connections. The connectivity of reefs through larval dispersal is important in the regional-scale resilience against anthropogenic disturbances and is considered a significant criterion in planning for MPAs. In this study, we provide insights into the delineation of ecologically connected MPA networks using larval dispersal modeling and network analysis. We characterized the network properties of the Philippine coral reefs, organized as 252 reef nodes, based on the larval connectivity networks of a branching coral, sea urchin, and grouper. We then evaluated the distribution of the existing 1,060 MPAs relative to the connectivity patterns. All reef nodes were found to be highly interconnected with a mean shortest path ranging from 1.96 to 4.06. Reef nodes were then ranked according to their relative importance in regional connectivity based on five connectivity indices. Despite the between-organism and between-index variability in rankings, there were reefs nodes, mostly located offshore and at major straits, which consistently ranked high. We found that the distribution of existing MPAs partially capture some of the regional connectivity functions but there is a spatial mismatch between the primarily coastal MPAs and the high-ranking reef nodes. Furthermore, network partitioning identified subnetworks and dispersal barriers. The existing MPAs were found to be disproportionately distributed to a few subnetworks and that the largest subnetworks do not contain the greatest number of MPAs. Considering these gaps, we suggest expanding the coverage of protected areas especially in underrepresented reef networks to meaningfully capture national-scale connectivity and meet global conservation objectives.
We would like to thank Dr. Vera Horigue and Andrew Torres for constructive comments and suggestions during the early versions of this paper. We also thank the members of the Biological Oceanography and Modeling of Ecosystems (BiOME) Laboratory who assisted in running model simulations.
A benefit-cost comparison of varying scales and methods of coral reef restoration in the Philippines
Abrina, Tara Alessandra S.; Bennett, Jeff (Elsevier, 2021-12)
The slow rate of recovery in some reefs around the Philippines has prompted the widespread investment in active reef restoration in the country. However, from the point of view of society, these different coral reef restoration investments have not yet been fully compared in a benefit-cost analysis. In this paper, the economic efficiencies of four coral reef investments are compared – at two different scales (local and national) and two different technologies (‘coral gardening’ and ‘mass larval enhancement’). The values are derived from a previous valuation study that used the Choice Modelling method of estimating non-market values of coral reef restoration. The capacity of these values to facilitate comparisons among reef investments is thus assessed in this paper. Based on predictions from reef restoration scientists the Philippines, the mass larval enhancement investments are estimated to produce higher net benefits and benefit-cost ratios compared to those of coral gardening. In terms of scale, higher net social outcomes for the local-scale investments support more localized approaches to coral restoration.
Strong genetic structure and limited gene flow among populations of the tropical seagrass Thalassia hemprichii in the Philippines
Nakajima, Yuichi; Matsuki, Yu; Fortes, Miguel D.; Uy, Wilfredo H.; Campos, Wilfredo L.; Nadaoka, Kazuo; Lian, Chunlan (MDPI AG, 2023-02-05)
Seagrasses are marine angiosperms, and seagrass beds maintain the species diversity of tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems. For proper understanding, management and conservation of coastal ecosystems, it is essential to understand seagrass population dynamics. Population genetic studies can cover large geographic scales and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of reproductive dynamics and potential dispersal among locations. The clonal and genetic diversity and genetic connectivity of Thalassia hemprichii in the Philippines were estimated by a population genetics approach. The geographic scale of this study has a direct distance of approximately 1600 km. Although high clonal diversity was found in some sites (R = 0.07–1.00), both sexual and asexual reproduction generally maintains separate populations. Genetic diversity is not definitely correlated with latitude, and genetic differentiation is significant in all pairs of sites (FST = 0.026–0.744). Complex genetic structure was found in some regions, even at a fine geographic scale. The migration of fruits and seedlings was elucidated as an infrequent and stochastic event. These results suggest the necessity for the conservation of this species due to a deficiency in migrants from external regions.
We thank members of CECAM project.
Emerging pharmaceutical contaminants in key aquatic environments of the Philippines
Mariano, Shyrill Mae F.; Angeles, Luisa F.; Aga, Diana S.; Villanoy, Cesar L.; Jaraula, Caroline Marie B. (Frontiers Media SA, 2023-09-13)
Pharmaceuticals in natural waters are considered emerging pollutants due to their low concentrations and the negative effects they pose to the environment. Common sources of such pollutants include untreated wastewater from hospitals, residential, industrial, and agricultural sources. Many wastewater treatment methods only remove a subset of all pharmaceuticals from the wastewater; remaining pharmaceuticals are discharged into natural waters, and ultimately drain into coastal areas. Regions without proper wastewater treatment are especially susceptible to such contamination. This study deals with the distribution, sources, and seasonal variability of pharmaceuticals in key aquatic systems in the Philippines. Two watershed continuums (Davao Gulf, Davao City; Macajalar Bay, Cagayan de Oro City); two tourist areas (Boracay Island, Aklan; Mabini, Batangas); and one pristine atoll (Tubbataha Reefs, Palawan)—all with varied prevailing human population pressures—were studied. Samples of hospital wastewater as well as groundwater, surface and bottom water samples from rivers and coastal seas collected during dry and wet seasons were analyzed using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Thirty-four target pharmaceutical residues and antibiotics were extracted and quantified. Acetaminophen was detected at concentrations of up to 289.17 ppb in freshwater samples, and at concentrations of up to 253.39 ppb in seawater samples. Ubiquitous to all the sites was caffeine, reaching 1848.57 ppb. Sulfamethazine, a commonly used veterinary antibiotic, was detected at 764.91 ppb in a river site in Cagayan de Oro. Untreated hospital wastewater contained metformin, iopamidol, sulfamethoxazole, acetylsulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin, but these pharmaceuticals were not detected in other river and coastal waters. Samples collected during the dry season exhibited higher concentrations than those from the wet season, which appears to be related to increase in transient populations from tourism activities as well as dilution. The presence of pharmaceutical residues and antibiotics in these areas and the potential impact on the environment indicate the need for stricter wastewater management measures, particularly in communities located near water bodies. As the results of this study show, such measures might be most beneficial and effective if imposed during dry season and in areas open to tourism.
We thank the crew and researchers aboard M/Y Panata expedition PA0421 to Tubbataha in October 2019 and cruise to Boracay December 2019. Our gratitude to Mary Antoinette Limen, Mishel Valery Rañada, Gio Ferson Bautista, and Ernest Guiller Pineda for helping us in the field, and to Lahiruni Halwatura for assisting in the creation of a standard calibration curve for saltwater.
Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: implications for aquaculture and fishery management
Lal, Monal M.; Macahig, Deo A. S.; Juinio-Meñez, Marie A.; Altamirano, Jon P.; Noran-Baylon, Roselyn; de la Torre-de la Cruz, Margarita; Villamor, Janine L.; Gacura, Jonh Rey L.; Uy, Wilfredo H.; Mira-Honghong, Hanzel; Southgate, Paul C.; Ravago-Gotanco, Rachel (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-06-04)
The sandfish Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra, is a high-value tropical sea cucumber harvested from wild stocks for over four centuries in multi-species fisheries across its Indo-Pacific distribution, for the global bêche-de-mer (BDM) trade. Within Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an important centre of the BDM trade, however overharvesting and largely open fishery management have resulted in declining catch volumes. Sandfish mariculture has been developed to supplement BDM supply and assist restocking efforts; however, it is heavily reliant on wild populations for broodstock supply. Consequently, to inform fishery, mariculture, germplasm and translocation management policies for both wild and captive resources, a high-resolution genomic audit of 16 wild sandfish populations was conducted, employing a proven genotyping-by-sequencing approach for this species (DArTseq). Genomic data (8,266 selectively-neutral and 117 putatively-adaptive SNPs) were used to assess fine-scale genetic structure, diversity, relatedness, population connectivity and local adaptation at both broad (biogeographic region) and local (within-biogeographic region) scales. An independent hydrodynamic particle dispersal model was also used to assess population connectivity. The overall pattern of population differentiation at the country level for H. scabra in the Philippines is complex, with nine genetic stocks and respective management units delineated across 5 biogeographic regions: (1) Celebes Sea, (2) North and (3) South Philippine Seas, (4) South China and Internal Seas and (5) Sulu Sea. Genetic connectivity is highest within proximate marine biogeographic regions (mean Fst=0.016), with greater separation evident between geographically distant sites (Fst range=0.041–0.045). Signatures of local adaptation were detected among six biogeographic regions, with genetic bottlenecks at 5 sites, particularly within historically heavily-exploited locations in the western and central Philippines. Genetic structure is influenced by geographic distance, larval dispersal capacity, species-specific larval development and settlement attributes, variable ocean current-mediated gene flow, source and sink location geography and habitat heterogeneity across the archipelago. Data reported here will inform accurate and sustainable fishery regulation, conservation of genetic diversity, direct broodstock sourcing for mariculture and guide restocking interventions across the Philippines.
Genetic diversity of Kappaphycus malesianus (Solieriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Philippines
Dumilag, Richard V.; Crisostomo, Bea A.; Aguinaldo, Zae-Zae A.; Lluisma, Arturo O.; Gachon, Claire M.M.; Roleda, Michael Y. (Elsevier, 2023-07)
Kappaphycus farming for carrageenan production is characterized by a strong selective pressure at the genetic level. Traits of agronomic importance are compromised due to domestication bottlenecks and the subsequent events of possible selective breeding of founding cultivars. Kappaphycus malesianus is farmed in Malaysia and the Philippines, and is distributed within the Malesian region. While the majority of genetically characterized specimens of this species are from Malaysia, those from the Philippines are poorly explored. Here, we assessed the genetic diversity of K. malesianus from the Philippines based on cox1 sequences. Of the 15 identified haplotypes, 14 specimens represent three novel haplotypes (wild specimens) that form a group distinct from the main clade comprising most K. malesianus haplotypes known to date. An additional haplotype from a cultivated specimen was identical to that of the most widely distributed haplotype. Our findings demonstrate that the K. malesianus is genetically more diverse than previously recognized. It is expected that higher genetic diversity may be revealed through additional sampling from a wider geographic range and careful application of integrative approaches. Future selective breeding programs in Kappaphycus would benefit from the incorporation of the genetic resources, as provided in this study.
Mining small molecules from Teredinibacter turnerae strains isolated from Philippine Teredinidae
Villacorta, Jamaine B.; Rodriguez, Camille V.; Peran, Jacquelyn E.; Batucan, Jeremiah D.; Concepcion, Gisela; Salvador-Reyes, Lilibeth A.; Junio, Hiyas A. (MDPI, 2022-11-21)
Endosymbiotic relationship has played a significant role in the evolution of marine species, allowing for the development of biochemical machinery for the synthesis of diverse metabolites. In this work, we explore the chemical space of exogenous compounds from shipworm endosymbionts using LC-MS-based metabolomics. Priority T. turnerae strains (1022X.S.1B.7A, 991H.S.0A.06B, 1675L.S.0A.01) that displayed antimicrobial activity, isolated from shipworms collected from several sites in the Philippines were cultured, and fractionated extracts were subjected for profiling using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry quadrupole time-of-flight mass analyzer (UHPLC-HRMS QTOF). T. turnerae T7901 was used as a reference microorganism for dereplication analysis. Tandem MS data were analyzed through the Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) molecular networking, which resulted to 93 clusters with more than two nodes, leading to four putatively annotated clusters: lipids, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, cyclic dipeptides, and rhamnolipids. Additional clusters were also annotated through molecular networking with cross-reference to previous publications. Tartrolon D cluster with analogues, turnercyclamycins A and B; teredinibactin A, dechloroteredinibactin, and two other possible teredinibactin analogues; and oxylipin (E)-11-oxooctadec-12-enoic acid were putatively identified as described. Molecular networking also revealed two additional metabolite clusters, annotated as lyso-ornithine lipids and polyethers. Manual fragmentation analysis corroborated the putative identification generated from GNPS. However, some of the clusters remained unclassified due to the limited structural information on marine natural products in the public database. The result of this study, nonetheless, showed the diversity in the chemical space occupied by shipworm endosymbionts. This study also affirms the use of bioinformatics, molecular networking, and fragmentation mechanisms analysis as tools for the dereplication of high-throughput data to aid the prioritization of strains for further analysis.
The research was completed under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Philippines in compliance with Prior Informed Consent (PIC) certificate requirements and all required legal instruments and regulatory issuances covering the conduct of the research. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology-funded Discovery and Development of Health Products Program (DOST-DDHP) for the LC-MS Facility of the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Diliman.
Genetic diversity and population connectivity of the greenblotch parrotfish (Scarus quoyi Valenciennes, 1840) within southern Mindanao inferred from mitochondrial 16S rRNA
Labrador, Kevin; Fortaleza, Maybelle; Cabasan, Joey; Elumba, Merlene; Nañola, Cleto (Science and Technology Information Institute, 2022-10-03)
A genetic assessment was done on the greenblotch parrotfish (Scarus quoyi Valenciennes, 1840) in three bays within southern Mindanao, Philippines. Mitochondrial 16S rRNA recovered 12 haplotypes, one of which was dominant in all sites. Despite the reported phenotypic variation from previous assessments, there was neither evidence of genetic structure (global Φst = 0.012, p = 0.13) nor isolation by distance (r = 0.05, p = 0.50). Genetic diversity was also low (Hglobal = 0.472; πglobal = 0.13%), with ~ 77% of haplotype diversity accounted for with just 69 samples. While connectivity suggests continuous larval exchange within southern Mindanao owing to the species’ high dispersal potential, low genetic diversity implies reduced effective population size, probably due to recent bottlenecks (e.g. overfishing, habitat destruction). Although this study provides baseline genetic information on the local population, inferences are considerably limited by the genetic marker used and the spatial scale under investigation. A thorough understanding of the population will be possible if the entire habitat range of the species is assessed using markers with high resolving power, such as the hypervariable mitochondrial control region, microsatellites, or genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
This project was funded by the DOST-PCAARRD (Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development) through the projects titled “DNA Barcoding and Genetic Diversity of Selected Marine Fishes along the North Bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current (NEC)” and “DNA Barcoding of Selected Marine Fishes in Davao and Sulu Archipelago (MINDA).” Sample collection was covered by the DARETO (Discovery-Applied Research and Extension for Trans/Inter-disciplinary Opportunities) research grant under CHED (Commission on Higher Education) through the project entitled “Bioeconomic Assessment and Modelling of Reef Fisheries and Sustainable Harvest Project”. We would like to thank Junissa M. Consuegra, Joemarie J. Lanutan, and Jodi Eugenia Lourdes F. del Fierro for their assistance in sample collection and laboratory work.
Local tide and geoid corrections significantly improve coastal retracked Jason sea surface heights in the Philippines
Flores, Paul Caesar; Reyes, Rosalie; Amedo-Repollo, Charina Lyn; Rediang, Abegail; Alfante, Rey Mark; Bauzon, Ma. Divina Angela; Pasaje, Nikki; Bringas, Dennis (Science and Technology Information Institute, 2022-11-08)
Retracking algorithms increase the accuracy of coastal sea surface height (SSH) measurements. However, it is still important to validate these retracking estimates with tide gauge (SSHtg) observations. We downloaded the freely available Jason altimeter SSH processed using the XTRACK-ALES algorithm, then detided the SSH using different tide models. The first model is the default tidal correction based on Finite Element Solution 2014 (SSHfes), and the second model is the T_Tide harmonic analysis of the nearest tide gauge (SSHaltimeter). SSHfes showed a very poor correlation (< 0.31) and very high root mean square error (RMSE, > 29 cm). In contrast, SSHaltimeter generally showed a very high correlation (> 0.91) and low RMSE (< 17.4 cm). A further quality check based on the average and standard deviation of the difference between the SSH readings (SSHfes – SSHtg and SSHaltimeter – SSHtg) also showed the superior performance of SSHaltimeter,which scored < 9.3 and < 16.5 cm, respectively; compared to SSHfes, which scored < 9.3 cm and > 27 cm for the same parameters. The poor performance from the SSHfes likely comes from the complex bathymetry and coastal geomorphology of the country, which is not accounted for in the FES. The Philippines generally has a narrow shelf, and the FES tide corrections may be related to deep-water tides rather than the shallow-water tides observed from tide gauges. Despite the high correlation and agreement between the SSHaltimeter and SSHtg, the rate of sea level rise from the SSHaltimeter in some sites is more than twice the rate from SSHtg, which indicates the possible influence of the vertical land movement.
This study was supported by grants to R.B. Reyes by the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development through the Coastal Sea Level Rise Philippines Project. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their feedback on how to improve the manuscript.
Fisheries Administrative Order No. 200-1: Series of 2021. Guidelines and procedures in implementing Section 91 (poaching in Philippine waters) of the Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654.
(Department of Agriculture, 2021-07-14)
This Order prohibits fishing or operating by any foreign fishing vessel (including foreign-flagged fishing vessels manned by Filipinos) in Philippine waters, and states that entry of a foreign fishing vessel while not observing certain conditions or behaving in certain manner shall constitute shall constitute prima facie evidence that the boat/vessel is engaged in poaching as articulated in the Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998 and relevant amendments including Republic Act No. 10654. One of the exceptions to the prima facie presumption shall be passage of the foreign vessel for purposes of dry docking, servicing, or unloading of catch by foreign flagged catcher vessels, provided, with a 24-hour prior entry notification in compliance with Port State Measures. The Order also, among other things, report of poaching and action on poaching report, information gathering and surveillance. Article 7 lists the persons authorised to enforce this Order including the Law Enforcement Officers of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; the Philippine Navy; Coast Guard and National Police. The Order sets out pre-operation, operation and post-operation procedures. Article 12 stipulates penalties for defined offences. The text consists of 15 Sections attached with 6 Annexes.