Archipelago, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a sea or stretch of water having many islands.” The word could have been invented for the Philippines: 7,107 islands strewn across 2,200,000 square kilometers of ocean.
It is not surprising that images of idyllic beaches and clear waters shape the views of foreigners regarding the nation known as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.” Beneath the surface of its coastal waters lies a paradise-like landscape.
Referred to as coral reefs, these formations offer a captivating refuge for a diverse array of marine life. Unfortunately, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) designates the Philippines as the top country on the list of 10 coral reef hotspots globally.
As early as the 1970s, the East-West Center in Hawaii indicated that over half of the nation’s reefs were “in advanced states of destruction.” It further noted that only approximately 25% were deemed to be “in good condition,” while a mere 5% were classified as “in excellent condition.”
In Davao Region, for instance, a survey conducted in 1991-1992 by the Regional Fishermen’s Training Center in Panabo City at Sarangani Bay and Davao Gulf showed most of the shallow or inshore coral reefs “were totally damaged because they are exposed to greater pressure.”
The deterioration of these coral reefs is bad news for Filipinos whose staple food is rice and fish. “A single reef may contain 3,000 species of corals, fish, and shellfish,” the late Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, a marine biologist and the first Filipino to receive the International Biwako Prize for Ecology, told Edge Davao when he was still alive.
A typical diet of Filipinos consists of a combination of rice, vegetables, and fish, with fish serving as the primary source of protein. The 2018-2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), showed only 55.1% of households meet the recommended protein intake.
“Fish and seafoods are the main source of good quality protein for Filipinos, thus, availability and accessibility must be ensured. If the situation persists and left unattended, this may result in higher medical costs for the management of illnesses as a resultant factor of nutrient inadequacy,” said Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, FNRI Director.
An estimated 10% to 15% of the total fisheries in the Philippines come from coral reefs. The fish caught from healthy reef areas range from 20-25 metric tons per square kilometer per year. About 80% to 90% of the income of small island communities come from fisheries.
“Wild fish are the world’s most cost-efficient protein source,” points out Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, head of Oceana Philippines. “They are renewable, low-carbon, and much cheaper to produce than chicken, pork, or beef.”
But as coral reefs continue to deteriorate, fish and other marine life cannot be as productive as they were before. “This will have a domino effect,” the International Marinelife Alliance-Philippines warned. “Fishermen will have fewer catches and lower income and there will be less fish and marine products for everyone.”
Where have all our fish gone? “We are running out of fish and running out of time. For a country known for its marine biodiversity, there are very few fish left to catch,” deplored Vince Cinches, oceans and political campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
This is true in the case of Davao Gulf, Southern Mindanao’s fishing ground. A recent study showed that 45-50% of the total fish caught daily by most of the fishermen in the gulf are juvenile – too young, not marketable and, therefore, wasted.
Dr. Anthony Sales, regional director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), attributed the dwindling fish catch in Davao Gulf to the destruction of coral reefs and other fish habitats.
The Philippines is home to over 400 local species of corals, which is more than what is found in the famous Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Unfortunately, most of these species are now gone and others are facing extinction. “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines,” deplores Don E. McAllister of the Ocean Voice International.
The decline is thought to be due primarily to destructive human activities. “Many areas are in really bad shape due largely to unwise coastal land use, deforestation and the increasing number of fishermen resorting to destructive fishing methods,” says marine ecologist Dr. Porfirio M. Alino of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (MSI).
Destructive fishing methods – ranging from dynamite blasts to cyanide poisons – are destroying vast areas of reef. Fishermen blast reefs with dynamite to stun the fish. When fish float to the surface, fishermen scoop up large quantities at once.
Once reefs are devastated by dynamite, their yield diminishes to only 2.7 to 5 metric tons per square kilometer annually, in stark contrast to the 30 metric tons produced by healthy reefs.
However, the repercussions extend beyond the immediate destructive force of the explosion. Following a detonation, algal growth rapidly envelops the coral, as the populations of grazing fish that would typically regulate it have been severely reduced.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the practice of cyanide fishing originated in the Philippines during the 1960s. While it is not as prevalent as it once was, the damage inflicted on coral reefs persists.
“These practices are criminal,” decried Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who once visited Palawan to examine reefs destroyed by cyanide fishing. “They attack the natural productive environment which allows the renewal of marine resources. Destroying coral today is destroying tomorrow’s fish.”
Another equally destructive fishing method is the “muro-ami,” a drive-in net used for fishing in coral reefs. “The problems related to “muro-ami” fishing are its employment of minors for fishing, their exposure to health hazards and the destruction of coral reefs because of the weighted scarelines,” explained Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, former executive director of Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Resources Research and Development.
Coral mining has also been cited as among those that deplete the country’s reefs. In the past, an estimated 1.5 million kilograms of corals were harvested annually as part of the international trade in reef products.
The good thing is that coral harvesting is now regulated, with the collection and harvesting of common coral being prohibited, except for specific species that may be harvested under special permits for scientific or educational purposes.
Deforestation has likewise contributed. The sedimentation from soil erosion destroys coral reefs. “Sedimentation of waters in reef areas is the number one cause of damage,” explained Dr. Edgardo G. Gomez, the founding director of MSI. “This happens when rain water washes off sediment or silt from eroded land and carries it to the sea.”
Other causes of the deterioration of coral reefs in the country: the quarrying of coral reefs for construction purposes; pollution from industry, mining, and municipalities; and coastal population growth.
In addition to human activities, coral reefs also face destruction from natural causes. These natural factors include extremely low tides, elevated surface water temperatures, predation, and the mechanical effects of currents and waves.
Extremely low tides often leave corals exposed to sunlight and freshwater runoff, both of which can be fatal after several hours of exposure. The high temperatures of surface water are intensified by unusually low tides that leave shallow reefs vulnerable to sunlight, rainfall, and the influx of freshwater.
Then, there’s coral bleaching. This occurs when corals turn chalky white and begin to die. Coral bleaching happens when corals are under stress because of extreme sea temperatures or pollution. Corals evict their algal tenants and turn white as a result, explains Worldwatch Institute’s John C. Ryan.
The government is doing its best to save the country’s remaining coral reefs by passing several laws. Presidential Decree 1198, for instance, amends PD 1219 and limits permits to gather in limited quantities of corals for scientific or educational purposes only.
The government is also diligently engaged in efforts to preserve coral reefs through various initiatives:
Protected Seascape: Several protected seascape areas have been established. The Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape, for instance, is vital due to its abundant marine resources and biodiversity. The Panaon Island Protected Seascape, spanning over 60,000 hectares of ocean, hosts lively coral reefs and endangered marine species.
Coral Reef Restoration Program: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has allocated funding for the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restoration Program, which seeks to enhance coral productivity through the use of asexually reproduced corals.
Community Involvement: Local communities, including Bantay Dagat, play a crucial role in safeguarding marine sanctuaries from illegal fishing, underscoring the significance of community participation in marine conservation.
