Southern Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP)

Monthly Project Update

May 2013

Location: Napantao Dive Resort, Napantao, San Francisco, Project Scientist: Alex Ferguson

SLRCP Project Aim The Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP) is a Contents collaborative project to survey the coral reefs of . The programme provides training and conservation education opportunities  Latest news for local Filipinos, as part of an integrated programme to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of  Educational & marine resources throughout the region. Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) Community Pojects is working at the invitation of and in partnership with the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and the Philippine Reef & Rainforest  Survey Update Conservation Foundation Inc (PRRCFI). Coral Cay Conservation provides the resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through  Marine Scholarship the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical News forests.  Marine Creature of the month

Latest News

This month two new members of staff joined our team on site. Sammie Euridge and Claire Ogg arrived from the UK to take on their new roles as Education Officer and Field Based Manager. Claire has worked on a number of similar projects around the world in countries such as Fiji and the Maldives. As a qualified PADI SCUBA instructor she has a wealth of diving experience and arrives on site ready for the challening role as Field Based Manager. Sammie completed a Masters degree in Physical Oceanography before completing a couple of years of research into Our new Field Based Manager Claire Ogg (left) and wave energy. Now keen for a new, Education Officer Sammie Euridge more hands on challenge Sammie has arrived to continue our very important education and community work.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project , May, 2013

Story of the Month

On the 15th of May, CCC project scientists Alex Ferguson and Casper van de Geer were invited to attend the 62nd LGU Inaugral Day and Fiesta Celebrations in San Francisco. The day started with a parade around the town and involved many members of the community incuding municipal officials barabngay leaders, Philippine National Police officers and teachers from local schools to name but a few. At the head of the parade were students from the Santa Paz National High School band who entertained the crowds with an array of classic and contemporary songs. The parade finished in the basketball arena in the centre of town with a fantastic performance from the band and the flag bearers and dance troope who accompanied them. Next came the welcome messages and the opening of the fiesta celebrations. CCC staff were honoured to be among the guests invited on stage to watch the festivities. The day was concluded with a basketball tournament contested by teams from each of the barangays within the San Francisco Municipality.

The Santa Paz National High School band prepares to start leading the parade

Education and Community Projects

Reef Rangers with Santa Paz National High School students

This month CCC’s Education Officer, Hazel Murray, welcomed twelve students from Santa Paz National High School to our site for our Reef Ranger Training Programme. This programme is open to high school students who visit for two days and attend classes on coral reef ecology and coral biology as well as undertaking three snorkelling sessions where they put their new knowledge to the test. The programme culminates with the Reef Rangers giving a Reef Rangers from Santa Paz National High School

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, May, 2013

presentation to our staff and volunteers about coral reef conservation. It was fantastic to have the Santa Paz students on site; they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it’s always inspiring to see young people to care about their environment and want to learn more.

SLSU Training Event

This month we were also delighted to welcome students from Southern Leyte State University for a training morning focusing on Global Environmental Concerns. The students, most of whom are also science teachers, spent the morning finding out about the work CCC does and discussing the ways in which threats to coastal ecosystems can be mitigated and managed. They then went for a snorkel in Napantao MPA to see the coral reef with their own eyes.

Education Officer, Hazel Murray, and Project Scientist, Alex Ferguson, with SLSU Sogod students at CCC base

CCC invited to kids climate change camp

At the end of the month CCC pleased to be was asked to attend the Children and Youth Environmental Camp in Liloan. Our staff and volunteers gave a presentation on climate change and coastal resources, helped with the coastal clean up, performed the famous Fred the Fish puppet show and showed an underwater movie about coral reefs. Education Officers, Hazel Murray and Sammie Euridge, were joined by seven volunteers for this action packed day.

June looks to be a busy month for the Education Officer as the new school year is about to start. Staff and volunteers enjoy dinner with staff from Plan Sammie is looking forward to International, co-organisers of the Children and Youth teaching in the elementary and Environmental Camp in Liloan high schools on Panaon Island.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, May, 2013

Survey Update

Survey background: Since January 2013, CCC has been using a new methodology to carry out our underwater surveys. The baseline assessment of the natural resources of Sogod Bay, started in 2002, has been completed as far as possible from our current location. From now on we will be focussing our efforts on assessing how these natural resources are being protected by surveying the effectiveness of the Marine Protected Areas in Sogod Bay. To do this we will be using the Reef Check survey protocol, which has been customized by CCC to perfecty fit our work in Sogod Bay. If you would like more information on our surveying please contact our Project Scientist, Alex Ferguson.

Padre Burgos MPA Assessment

This month we were due to start surveying in the Santa Sofia MPA in Padre Burgos. Unfortunately due to a technical issue with our dive boat we have been unable to survey at any remote location. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved quickly and we shall be able to start surveying very soon. All at CCC would like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

Limasawa and Napantao MPA assessments

We are pleased to announce that the report for the Limasawa MPA assessment is now finished and the Napantao report is nearly complete. From the analysis of the data it is clear that both sites are in generally good health with significant stands of hard coral and a good diversity of fish and invertebrates. The lack of large predatory fish however is a concern and may be an indicator of high fishing pressure in the region.

Limasawa CoTs Assessment

As mentioned last month, CCC staff and volunteers conducted a Crown of Thorns Starfish (CoTs) assessment in the area proposed as an MPA around Limasawa. The findings are very positive with very low numbers recorded both inside and outside the proposed MPA and at different depth contours. As a large scale extraction has just taken place around Limasawa it is encouraging to see that it appears to have been effective. Continued monitoring is recommended to assess CoTs levels and prevent future outbreaks. Crown of Thorns Starfish – Acanthaster planci

Napantao CoTs Assessment

As a result of the issues with our dive boat we have been confined to diving on our house reef in Napantao. As an opportunity not to be missed staff and volunteers have started conducting a comprehensive CoTs assessment of the Napantao MPA and surrounding areas. The initial results are again positive with observed numbers of CoTs very low and below out break levels. The report for this assessment will be compiled in due course.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, May, 2013

Marine Scholarship News

Each month CCC offers Filippino nationals who display an ambition to study and protect the vital marine ecosystems of the Philippines an opportunity to take part as a counterpart in our Marine Conservation Scholarship. The programme lasts for one month and involves training the student in SCUBA diving to the level of PADI Advanced Open Water. They then take part in an intensive Skills Development Programme giving them the knowledge and expertise to conduct sub-marine surveys of the coastline.

Focus on our current scholars

This month we were very happy to welcome Jerome Napala back to our site in Napantao. Jerome initially joined the scholarship programe in 2011 where he completed his science training and PADI Rescue Diver course. Since then he has been working on the Coral Reef Restoration Project in Padre Burgos as a Technical Project assisstant. Jerome has returned to CCC to complete his PADI Divemaster qualification, which is an intensive course designed to teach individuals how to become leaders in diving. It is also the first professional qualification on the PADI system. We are very pleased to announce that Jerome raced through the course and was awarded the qualification after just two weeks! An amazing achievement!

As our survey methodology has changed since he was last here, Jerome has also completed our new science program. Again, he raced through this in no time and passed all aspects with flying colours. He is now involved with helping train our new volunteers and has proved a real asset to our team.

Of his time with CCC Jerome says that, “being able to do my Open Water to Divemaster with Coral Cay is a great source of pride for me. Living the life I once dreamed about and positivly contibuting towards the Jerome with volunteer Hannah Tice preparing to go on a greater good of the science training dive environment is fantastic”.

If you would like to apply for the CCC Marine Conservation Scholarship programme or read more about it, please visit:

http://www.coralcay.org/volunteer/scholarship-opportunities/

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, May, 2013

Marine Creature of the Month!

This scary looking creature is a Fimbriated Moray Eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) and was spotted by a volunteer during a dive on our house reef in Napantao. Morays are often thought to be aggressive due to them constantly opening and closing their mouths. In reality they are generally placid and naturally curious in nature. The action of opening their mouths simply moves water across their gills, allowing them to breath.

Species such as this have very sharp pointed teeth used for catching and eating small fishes A Fimbriated Moray protruding from its hole in the and octopuses. Other species of reef - look at all those sharp teeth! eel have more blunted teeth perfect for crushing the shells of small crustaceans such as crabs.

During the day Morays are usually only seen with their heads protruding from holes on the reef. If they are lucky divers will occasionally see them free swimming and hunting for prey anongst the corals.

“Completing a Dive Master course anywhere is amazing but completing it here in the

Philippines along side the science training has

been a fantastic experience”

Emma Edwards (CCC volunteer)

Learn More! To learn more about the CCC Philippines project, to join the expedition, or to find out about local Marine Scholarships, visit www.coralcay.org.