Journal Articles - UP - MSI
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.unesco.gov.ph/handle/123456789/50
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- MPA-FishMApp – a citizen science app that simplifies monitoring of coral reef fish density and biomass in marine protected areasAbesamis, Rene; Balingit, Rodel; de Castro, Romulo; Aguila, Raphael Nelo; Cabiguin, Maryjune; Villagracia, Julius; Susmeña, Marynoll; Montemar, Mario Neil; Yocor, Antonio (National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 2022-12)Monitoring changes in fish density and biomass inside marine protected areas (MPAs) through fish visual census (FVC) can determine if MPAs are achieving their goal of promoting fish population recovery. Simplified FVC methods have been developed for citizen scientists to enable them to monitor fish populations in MPAs. However, MPA monitoring programs led by local stakeholders remain rare and difficult to sustain due to technical barriers related to FVC data management. Here, we describe and evaluate a novel online app called MPA-FishMApp, which we developed to help stakeholders of MPAs that protect coral reefs in the Philippines efficiently store, analyze, and visualize FVC data. MPA-FishMApp is coupled to a simplified FVC method wherein the observer records only 21 reef fish species groups during surveys. The app provides a simple data entry interface, cloud storage, and algorithms to estimate fish density and biomass. Spatial and temporal trends in fish density and biomass can be instantaneously visualized in the app based on relative importance to fisheries. Field testing suggested that the MPA-FishMApp methodology (simplified FVC and app) is sensitive enough to detect qualitative patterns showing differences in density and biomass that may develop between MPAs and fished sites, especially in fishes that are highly important to fisheries. However, users must have sufficient training and experience in simplified FVC to produce reliable data. MPA-FishMApp may help reverse the lack of monitoring in MPAs across the Philippines and offers an accessible, transparent, and auditable venue for collaboration between citizen scientists and professional scientists.
- Moving towards open data, public access, and information sharing to combat marine plastics pollution in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian regionAlindayu, Ricardo C.; Licnachan, Lance Oliver C.; Luzadas, Ramgem L.; Ignacio, Paul Samuel P.; Onda, Deo Florence L. (Elsevier, 2023-09-01)Despite the consistent tagging of countries in Southeast Asia as among the top polluters of plastics in the oceans and the increasing local literature documenting the presence and abundance of plastics in marine environments, there still lacks a comprehensive, open, and accessible repository for marine plastics pollution data in the region. As such, this study presents the development of the PlastiCount Pilipinas portal in line with the call for a common data repository by the Philippines’ National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter and the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States. A total of 14 existing databases were reviewed to identify key features for the online portal implemented to promote ease of access and diversified functionality. For the database, a total of 38 publications, 2 reports, 1 scientific poster, and 3 baselining studies were used to develop the initial ground-truthed baseline for marine plastic pollution, covering 23 provinces and 14 regions across the Philippines. The challenges presented by an observed variation across different methodologies and reporting styles emphasize the critical need to harmonize methods toward generating a more refined national baseline for marine litter. The initial baseline data and other resources such as manuals, information sheets, photographs, news, and publications are uploaded onto a public online portal for viewing and download (https://plasticount.ph/). Data and resource submissions from the public are also accepted and considered for inclusion in the database. The insights gained from developing the online portal and database for the Philippines can be used to inform the development of a regional database for Southeast Asia towards reducing marine litter.
- Institutional dimensions of coral reef restoration in the PhilippinesMatorres, Dane Erlo; Fabinyi, Michael; Horigue, Vera; Novilla, Carmela Therese; Baria-Rodriguez, Maria Vanessa (Elsevier, 2024)While the Philippines is mostly known for its experiences on marine protected areas, local governments and non-government organizations are increasingly using coral restoration with the aim of rehabilitating degraded reef areas. Since the establishment of artificial reefs in the 1970s, the application, techniques and corresponding policy directives for reef restoration have evolved over time, and restoration has recently generated significant interest and investments from donors and government agencies. As the Philippines does not have a policy framework to support effective and sustainable practices for the use of different coral restoration techniques, the increase and unregulated use of restoration may result in unintended consequences and pose potential challenges to coastal management. To address this gap, we conducted a review of existing coral restoration policies, programs and projects across the country, with a focus on social, economic and governance aspects. The study collated existing published literature and unpublished information on coral restoration in the country, and conducted key informant interviews. The results show that coral restoration continues to increase, and that existing guidelines on coral restoration are poorly implemented and not widely understood among practitioners. While coral restoration projects reported ecological benefits, socio-economic impacts are limited. The evidence supports the need to review existing policies and contextualize coral restoration to contribute to relevant policy decisions about the restoration and protection of reefs.