National Ocean Month

I blogged about the National Ocean Month celebration activity last week and part of it was the Linis Bahura (Coral Reef Clean-up) spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The main objective was to save and help restore reefs (they chose Ilijan, Batangas this time), which is mobbed by a species of starfish Acanthaster planci or crown-of-thorns that preys on coral reefs. I was about to give up my slot while writing that blog entry, when I realized a few things: Opportunity seldom knocks so better grab it when it comes. Leaving work for a day or two wouldn't hurt much and it is for a good cause anyway. Plus, its an all expense paid trip, they will take care of the tanks, you just bring your own complete set of dive gears, weights included. Fair enough.

All packed up, we left for Batangas very early on Monday. We went to visit the location for reconnaissance after breakfast, then had a brief  meeting after dinner.

Again on the second day, everyone got prepared at 5 in the morning all ready to leave after breakfast at 5:30 so the program could also start early.

"Reef clean-up" Sisid para sa Kalikasan 2013

There were actually media, documenting the day’s activities plus an invited celebrity couple who are also dive enthusiasts.

Celebrity couple Lucky Manzano and Jen Mercado with Exec. Dir. of PAWB-CMMO, Coast Guard Auxiliary and President of Malampaya Foundation Inc.

It was my first dive in Batangas (yes, call me a loser). Batangas is blessed with very rich SCUBA diving sites and it is situated along the Verde Island Passage (VIP) globally known as the center of the center of marine shore biodiversity. It is one the Philippines’ list of must-dive spots. And true enough, their very rich underwater world was astonishingly divine! The locals actually named that barangay, ‘little Tubbataha’. It is packed with diverse marine flora and fauna; fishes in different sizes, corals in different shapes, giant clams, sponges and a lot more invertebrates. It is beautiful. 

Pretty corals

Thousands of fish in different sizes

Unfortunately, COTs or crown-of-thorns starfish infested the area. And the sight of table corals turned either into white caused by the COT’s toxins or brown from turf algae was regretfully awful. 

Crown-of-thorns starfish having brunch on a coral

COTs were everywhere, on and beneath coral grooves. I was so gigil to take them all off. If only I could just pick them all up.

Hiding in a crevice

Getting them off the corals using tongs

 Upside down diver hunting for COTs

                                                          Here's a clip on how we collected the COTs.


I was a bit sad. COTs are not really bad, I mean they are there for a reason. They have an important role in maintaining a reef. They actually help other species of corals a chance to grow. (Okay, Im talking basic ecology here). Some of these fast growing species of corals usually dominate an area, but presence of COTs gives chance for out-competed coral species to grow! However, going back to Spice Girls’ “too much of something is bad enough”, applies in this situation. Multitude of COTs seriously infested the area. Its just pathetic that their population can not be controlled anymore because their predators are already over-fished. 

A giant triton (Charonia tritonis) preying on crown-of-thorns starfish. Isn't it familiar? Yes, its one of those giant shells being sold in stalls near our favorite beach/islands. Awfully, they are endangered.

The cause of their outbreak is known to have been caused by pollution (most probably), an increase in temperature caused by global climate change (maybe), or from high temperature waste water from the neighboring Coal-Fired power plant, although we really cannot pinpoint. These things need verification and evidence. A number of on-going studies have already been conducted by scientists from all over the world since other parts of the globe, not only us have also observed the same enigma. 

Happy divers.

Click this link to know more about this activity.