Southern Coral Reef Conservation

Project (SLCRCP)

Monthly Project Update

February 2012

Location: Napantao Dive Resort, Napantao, San Francisco,

Project Scientist: Joe Wilkinson

SLRCP Project Aim The Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP) is a Contents collaborative project to survey the coral reefs of . The  Latest news programme provides training and conservation education opportunities for local Filipinos, as part of an integrated programme to develop local  Educational Activities capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout the region. Coral Cay Conservation (CCC)  Community Work 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  Marine Creature of the the resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through month the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests.

Latest News

Throughout February, Coral Cay volunteers have made continued progress monitoring the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout the municipality of , a few kilometres south of the base in Napantao.

Our Education Officer has been working hard giving Solid Waste Management Information seminars and initiating coastal clean ups in the municipalities of Sogod and Liloan.

CCC volunteers also took part in the release of baby turtles into the MPA at Molopolo, , an event that brought much community interest. Fredo, the mascot showing the kids in San Jose a few tips for the coastal clean up.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project , February, 2012

Story of the Month

Baby sea turtle release, Macrohon Marine Protected Area

On the 22nd February Coral Cay volunteers were invited by Macrohon Fisheries technician Sir Nicanor Bendito to join a baby sea turtle release at the Macrohon Marine Protected Area. Education Officer, Heather Murray, kicked of the events with an information presentation on sea turtle biology, threats, and protection measures. Various Governmental officials, Fisheries representatives, and Coral Cay volunteers then lined the seashore releasing the 22 strong healthy baby Hawksbill turtles into the sea. We all hope they will survive to increase the global population of Hawksbill turtles. Project Scientist, Joe Wilkinson spoke to the press, also present at the event, about turtle releases and the Crown of Thorns extractions taking place in the neighbouring municipality of Two of the 22 baby Hawksbill Padre Burgos. It is important to provide exposure turtles making their way to the for the great conservation work being carried out ocean in the Macrohon Marine every day by the local government and the Protected Area community throughout Southern Leyte.

Education and Community Projects

Solid waste management education campaign, Liloan

This month, Coral Cay Education Officer Heather Murray joined the Liloan Municipality Solid Waste Management Information Education Campaign. The team, consisting of Ms. Emie Cerena, Ms. Benny Dipay, Mr. Terencio Dipay, Ms. Darlene Lilang, Hon. Rodolfo Cuares, Chief Gonzaga, Engr. Gina Laure, and Ms. Heather Murray, visited around 16 different ’s within the Liloan Municipality. In each session Heather gave a presentation to community members on the effects of solid waste particularly plastic and metals on the marine

Solid Waste Management Information environment and food chain. The others Education Campaign seminar, Barangay San focused on the importance of solid waste Isidro. Liloan Municipality management, ideas for recycling, and disseminating official laws and penalties.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, February, 2012

Coastal clean-up San Jose, Sogod

On Saturday 18th February Coral Cay volunteers joined 100 students from the Hospitality and Tourism department of Southern Leyte State University to clean up waste from the coastline of San Jose, Sogod. Education Officer, Heather Murray, presented a short lecture on the effects of waste on the environment and then Fredo the Damselfish mascot, developed by Coral Cay Community Liaison Officer Dag Navarrete, made his first debut demonstrating how to pick up the trash. A large number of rice sacks were filled with plastic, metals, old fishing line, a broken Barbie, bottle caps and polystyrene. A job well done by all!

Coral Cay Conservation Project Fredo the Clownfish Mascot helping Scientist Joe Wilkinson (front) and at San Jose coastal clean-up volunteer Callum Clavey (back) helping clean up trash from San Jose beach, Sogod.

Teaching in schools

Education Officer, Heather Murray has continued teaching in the Liloan district schools. This month she visited Magaupas, Pres. Roxas, Ilag and Himayangan elementary schools. Each school was as excited as ever to learn about coral reef conservation, and Heather is hoping to start teaching in the eastern side of the Liloan Municipality in the next month.

Magaupas elementary students showing their coral polyps drawings.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, February, 2012

Survey Update

Survey background: Our baseline- surveying programme is designed to gather data about the biological and morphological standing of Sogod Bay. This data is combined with information on human and natural impacts on the reefs, along with oceanographic data, to ultimately produce a Geographical Information System ‘map’ of the various habitats of the bay. It is like a ‘stock-take’ of the current marine resources, which is being produced to provide policymakers and concerned institutions with information necessary to effectively manage those resources. To date the northern end of Sogod Bay has been surveyed and the remainder of the project will concentrate on the south including and Island. If you would like more information on our surveying please contact our Project Scientist, Joe Wilkinson.

As 2012 progresses rapidly the Coral Cay team are focussing surveying efforts in the municipality of Pintuyan. This involves monitoring of existing MPAs inside and outside the protected zone, in order to assess their effectiveness in terms of reef protection and recovery as well as replenishment of fish stocks. Baseline surveys are also conducted to provide the data necessary to initiate legislation for further protection of the delicate reef ecosystem.

This month, surveying at the MPA in Barangay Manglit has been completed and the data is currently being analysed. The subsequent report will then be presented to the Local Government Union so that management of the MPA can improve and develop. Monitoring of Barangay Catbawan is also very close to completion while baseline surveys are now underway near Barangay Son-ok.

The map depicted above summarises the surveys completed so far in 2012.

Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project Philippines, February, 2012

Marine Creature of the Month! This month’s marine creature of the month is Rhincodon typus – the Whale Shark. This magnificent creature can grow to 18m in length! Whale sharks are actually sharks, not whales so use their gills to extract oxygen from the water. Despite having enormous mouths they actually feed on tiny marine invertebrates like krill. Such fodder resides close to the surface leading the whale sharks to open their mouth as wide as possible before arching to the surface, scooping hundreds of thousands of krill in one go. Whale sharks are also thought to have migratory paths of thousands of miles but often return to their favourite spots. The whale shark depicted here, was spotted alongside several others near . They are currently prevalent in the

area, with the season being from December to April.

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.