National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS)
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- Spatial and short-term temporal patterns of octocoral assemblages in the West Philippine SeaLalas, Jue Alef A.; Lim, Romina Therese S.; Cabasan, Joey P.; Segumalian, Christine S.; Luciano, Rhea Mae A.; Valino, Darryl Anthony M.; Jacinto, Melchor R.; Arceo, Hazel O.; Baria-Rodriguez, Maria Vanessa (Frontiers Media SA, 2022-01-06)Octocorals are relatively understudied than other coral reef organisms despite their ecological and economic values. The Philippines is known to have high marine biodiversity, but information on octocorals is lacking. This study investigated spatial and temporal variations in the assemblage of octocorals in selected reef sites in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)- the Kalayaan Island Group (i.e., Pag-asa, Sabina, Lawak, and Northeast Investigator) and Ulugan in 2017 and 2019. Results showed high octocoral taxonomic richness (at least 10 families) in the study sites. Mean percent octocoral cover in WPS was 5.35% SE ± 0.55, with Sabina having the highest octocoral cover in both years. Significant differences in octocoral cover were observed among sites in both years, but among-station differences were only observed in 2017. Octocoral assemblage also differed among sites in both years (ANOSIM: R > 0.5, p < 0.05), wherein different octocoral taxa dominated in different sites. In particular, variations were driven by high cover of holaxonians, nephtheids, and coelogorgiids in Sabina, and clavulariids, tubiporiids, and xeniids in Northeast Investigator in 2017. In 2019, significant variations were driven by high cover of helioporiids in Pag-asa, while Sabina had higher abundance of holaxonians, nephtheids, alcyoniids, and xeniids. Short-term temporal variation on octocoral cover in monitoring stations in Pag-asa was not observed (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05), although the overall mean octocoral cover increased from 1.23% ± SE 0.47 in 2017 to 2.09% SE ± 0.37 in 2019. Further, there was no significant change in the octocoral assemblage in Pag-asa between years (ANOSIM, R = 0.11, p = 0.07). This study highlights high octocoral taxonomic richness in the WPS relative to other sites in the Indo-Pacific Region and provides baseline information on the octocoral assemblages, which can be useful for future ecological studies and marine biodiversity conservation efforts.We would like to thank the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Municipality of Kalayaan, and the Philippine Navy for their assistance and support during the research expeditions in the West Philippine Sea. We also thank Lovely Joy Heyres for assisting in the field collection and image analysis, and Kevin Yatco and Socorro Rodrigo for assisting in the satellite product processing. We also thank the valuable insights and suggestions given by the editor and reviewers of this journal that helped improve this manuscript.
- Complex patterns of genetic structure in the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra from the Philippines: implications for aquaculture and fishery managementLal, 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.
- Protect us from Chinese ships, fishers ask Navy, PCG(Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2023-10-02)Fishermen appealed to the government on Sunday to increase coast guard and naval patrols to protect them from the Chinese Coast Guard, which has stepped up their efforts in recent months to keep them from entering the Scarborough (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag) Shoal lagoon, where fishes are abundant. In an interview on radio dzBB, the spokesman of the Bigkis ng Mangingisda Federation in Masinloc, Zambales said Chinese vessels and rubber boats continue to block Filipino fishermen from entering the lagoon. “Chinese fishing vessels are also outside, but they can fish more freely in our reef. When Filipino fishermen insist on entering, they are being blocked and chased by Chinese Coast Guard rubber boats,” said Henrelito Empoc, the group’s spokesperson, speaking in Filipino.
- Philippine security council wants fishery report on cyanide use in S. China SeaAtienza, Kyle Aristophere; Ordoñez, John Victor (BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, 2024-02-20)The Philippines is keen on coming up soon with its complete report on the alleged use of cyanide by Chinese fishermen encroaching Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc. On Monday, National Security Council (NSC) Spokesman Jonathan Malaya told a news briefing that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has been ordered to finish its post-mission reports and submit all the evidence it has gathered to the country’s West Philippine Sea task force. “We at the National Security Council are alarmed by this development that is happening, but we have to be careful also, so we have to validate and investigate [the use of cyanide by Chinese fishermen].”
- PCG removes floating barrier in Bajo de MasinlocSadongdong, Martin (Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, 2023-09-27)The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on orders of President Mrcos, removed the floating barrier installed by China in Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, near Zambales. National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) Chairman and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año instructed the PCG to execute a "special operation" to remove the floating barrier which obstructed the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc and prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the shoal.
- More Chinese ships may be dumping waste at seaAtienza, Kyle Aristophere T. (BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, 2021-07-16)Chinese ships could also be dumping human wastes in other parts of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, US-based geospatial imagery firm Simularity, Inc. said on Thursday. Simularity’s earlier report showing swarms of Chinese ships anchored in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea dumping human waste only covered Union Banks, founder and Chief Executive Officer Liz Derr told a virtual forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. “That was just for the 236 ships that we saw in Union Banks in June,” she said. “There are actually more ships in the Spratlys that I did not count, the ones in Gaven or Thitu.”
- Senator wants to stop China’s island-building activities at seaTadalan, Charmaine A. (BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation, 2020-04-28)A Philippine senator on Monday filed a resolution seeking legal and diplomatic approaches to force China to stop its “destructive” reclamation activities in the South China Sea. Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel also said the government should force China to pay the Philippines P200 billion for damages on reefs within its territory in the past six years. “China’s sense of entitlement to our seas has caused severe and irreparable harm to our ecosystems,” Ms. Baraquel said in a statement. She estimated damages caused by China’s reclamation activities at P33 billion a year, assuming the value per hectare of a coral reef is $353,429 based on a 2012 study by Ecosystem Services.
- Who manipulated fishermen? Palace points to Diokno, IBPAurelio, Julie M.; Salaverria, Leila B. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc., 2019-07-12)Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) manipulated a group of fishermen into petitioning for an environmental protection order from the Supreme Court. Panelo was reacting to Diokno’s accusation on Wednesday that state lawyers used underhanded tactics by talking secretly to his clients, who then disavowed the petition filed in their behalf by the IBP in April. “I think it’s the other way around,” Panelo told reporters. “He should ask himself in the mirror because that questions applies to him.”
- US reassures Phl of stability in Indo-Pacific regionRomero, Paolo; Punongbayan, Michael (Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc., 2018-06-27)The United States has again reassured the Philippines and its other allies of its commitment to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea. Rear Admiral Marc Dalton, speaking aboard the USS Ronald Reagan on Tuesday, said their presence and operations have and will continue to promote security and freedom in international waters. Dalton said the Ronald Reagan Strike Group is composed of the USS Ronald Reagan, the Carrier Air Wing 5, the Destroyer Squadron 15 and two other military ships. He said stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region for the past 70 years has benefited all countries in the area.
- Back to the 'boro'Robles, Jojo A. (Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc., 2016-10-31)The “boro,” as Filipino fishermen call it, is back. And hundreds of them have happily returned to their old, rich fishing grounds, coming home with their outrigger boats groaning with the weight of their bountiful catch. “Boro” is what the subsistence fishermen from Bataan to Ilocos call Scarborough Shoal, also known by its local names of Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag. This is the outcrop of rock surrounding a shallow lagoon more than 200 kilometers from the coast of Luzon to the west, where all manner of fish spawn, live and easily get caught. The return of Filipino fishermen to Scarborough also signals the thawing of our frozen relations with the Chinese. And the best part is, there isn’t even any bilateral agreement that covers the return of the fishermen