National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)
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- Through the boundaries: Environmental factors affecting reef benthic cover in marine protected areas in the PhilippinesPanga, Fleurdeliz M.; Anticamara, Jonathan A.; Quibilan, Miledel Christine C.; Atrigenio, Michael P.; Aliño, Porfirio M. (Frontiers Media SA, 2021-08-18)Philippine coral reefs have been on the decline since the 1970s, and this degradation has posed a risk to biodiversity, food security, and livelihood in the country. In an effort to arrest this degradation, marine protected areas (MPAs) were established across the country. MPAs are known to improve fish biomass, but their effect on live coral cover and other benthos is not yet well documented and understood. In this study, 28 MPAs across the Philippines were surveyed comparing benthic cover and indices between protected reefs and adjacent unprotected reefs. No consistent differences were found between reefs inside and outside MPAs through all the benthic categories and reef health indices considered that are indicative of protection effects or recovery within MPAs. However, there were notable site-specific differences in benthic cover across the study MPAs-suggesting that factors other than protection play important roles in influencing benthic cover inside and outside of MPAs. Storm frequency and proximity to rivers, as a proxy for siltation, were the strongest negative correlates to live coral cover. Also, high coastal population, a proxy for pollution, and occurrence of blast and poison fishing positively correlated with high dead coral cover. The lack of significant difference in benthic cover between reefs inside and outside MPAs suggests that protection does not necessarily guarantee immediate improvement in benthic condition. Correlations between benthic condition and storm frequency, siltation, and pollution suggest that it is necessary to augment MPAs with other management strategies that will address the multiple stressors that are usually indiscriminate of MPA boundaries. Supplementing long-term and systematic monitoring of benthic cover and biodiversity inside and outside of MPAs with data on other important environmental and human impact variables will help improve understanding of benthic cover and biodiversity dynamics inside and outside of MPA boundaries.We would like to thank RARE Philippines and USAID, in collaboration with the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation (MERF), for research funding, coordination, and support in the execution of this research. We would also like to thank the RARE Conservation Fellows and Local Government Units for logistical support and coordination on all of the MPAs studied. We would also like to thank the Fisheries team of the MSI Community Laboratory for the municipal profile data, and the MSI Physical Oceanography Laboratory for the storm frequency and relative exposure index used in the environmental correlation. We would also like to thank the rest of the MERF-RARE Team/MSI Community Ecology Laboratory who joined and supported the many months of data gathering, encoding, and data analysis.
- Fish catch down 70%Cariaso, Bella; Macairan, Evelyn; Felipe, Cecille Suerte; Lee-Brago, Pia (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2023-09-19)Fish catch in the West Philippine Sea has gone down by 70 percent since 2020, and further decline is expected amid reports of massive poaching of corals by the Chinese, a militant fishers’ group warned yesterday. Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) national chairman Fernando Hicap raised the warning in a radio interview, in the wake of reports of plunder of corals in Rozul Reef, believed perpetrated by the Chinese. Corals are breeding grounds for marine life. Reports from fisherfolk – particularly from Zambales – have indicated 70 percent decline in fish catch “amid the illegal activities of Chinese fishing vessels,” Hicap said.
- End war on nature(Concept & Information Group, Inc., 2021-09-20T03:52:15Z)Ending the “war on nature” must be part of global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for World Oceans Day. The annual commemoration is a reminder of the major role oceans have in everyday life as “the lungs of our Planet” and as a source of food and medicine. Although this year’s theme focuses on their importance for the cultural and economic survival of communities worldwide, the Secretary-General cited a recent report which confirmed that many of the benefits oceans provide are being undermined by human activity.
- Groups seek deeper probe into Manila Bay's beach nourishment' initiativeMayuga, Jonathan L. (Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., 2020-09-08)At least 10 environmental and cause-oriented groups on Wednesday called for an investigation into the controversial “beach nourishment” project at a portion of Manila Bay’s shoreline. The call for the probe was contained in a position paper sent to Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo Gongona, and the Senate and House of Representatives, in the exercise of their oversight powers and the Office of the Ombudsman. The group also prodded Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Manila and Chairman Rene Escalante of the National Historical Commission (NHC) to investigate the violations committed by the proponents of the project.
- China’s reef destruction P231.7 B so far: Pay upBondoc, Jarius (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2020-06-17)China owes the Philippines P231.7 billion for continuing reef destruction and poaching since 2013. With the UN court holding Beijing liable for ecological damage, the Philippines can exact indemnity. China state assets in the Philippines and overseas rightfully can be seized. Government must press payment. Why and how was discussed last week by scientists and international law and relations experts. Over half of the 110 million Filipinos live in coastal communities, relying on marine resources for daily needs. Recompense will correct years of China atrocity and injustice in the West Philippine Sea. Foreign aggression in exclusive economic zones will be deterred.
- PH sets commitments for ocean protection(The Manila Times Publishing Corporation, 2017-05-24)Non-governmental organizations and environmental groups in the Philippines, with the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies, have set voluntary commitments to protect ocean ecosystems in line with the United Nations’ call for concrete action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water.