The coral reefs of Mararison

Item Type article

Authors Garcia, Luis Maria; Marte, Clarissa; Agbayani, Renato Foronda

Download date 25/09/2021 15:27:27

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35157 special report • CFRM in malalison island

The coral reefs of Mararison

BY Mararison Island, otherwise known as Luis Maria Garcia,PhD and is one of two prominent peaks that is Malalison Island, lies 4 km off the west Scientist covered by grass and few trees. On the is­ coast of Culasi in northern Antique and is Clarissa Marte, PhD land’s western tip facing Cuyo East Pass, a about 7 km from Batbatan Island on the Scientist small rocky islet named Nablag is separated northwest. It is separated from Panay Is­ AND from the island by a shallow lagoon and a land by a narrow Salangan channel and is Renato Agbayani, MBA short sandbar. A prominent sandbar named situated at 11°25' north latitude (N lat) and Associate Scientist Kawit also lies on the island's eastern tip 122°01' east longitude (E long). SEAFDEC / AQD facing Panay Island. The north side has a relatively steeper slope than the south side Transect sites of the where the lone b a ra n g a y coral reefs community is located. A a Layag-layag small pastureland and rice 11°25'05" N lat field near Nablag islet are the 122°00’52" E long only arable land in the island. b Gatusan Human settlements are con­ 11°25'10" N lat centrated on the southern 122°01’05" E long part. c Amihanan 11°2 5 ’ 14" N lat Reef structure and corals 122°01’15" E long d Kawit The reef fronting the island’s 11°24’40" N lat southeast side (Kawit and 122°01’3 1" E long Talisay.) is depauperate (5- e Talisay 12% live hard coral cover) 11° 24’48" N lat with few small colonies of 122°01’24" E long encrusting and massive cor­ f Punta Ayo als that include Porites lutea, 11°24’41" N lat Pavona varians, Montipora, 122°01’20" E long and faviids. Most corals in the g Nablag stretches of rubble and sand 11°24’38” N lat in Kawit and Talisay appear 122°00’42" E long to be recent recruits. Larger h Gui-ob colonics arc found in rocky 11°24’07" N lat outcrops and boulders in 122°00’49" E long these stations, particularly in Punta Ayo where live hard Physical features coral cover is higher (21- Mararison is a low island 31%). On rocky outcrops of surrounded by a fairly Punta Ayo, massive colonies extensive fringing reef. It of Diplostrea heliopora and has a total land area of branching Porites annae are 0.65 km2 that is composed mainly of lime­ A bathymetric map of Mararison conspicuous together with S. hystrix and P. stone and carbonated rock. The surround­ Island in Culasi, Antique. Transect damicornis. Small colonies of encrusting ing fringing reef and nearby reefs cover an stations are also shown. Depth soundings M ontipora and faviids are also numerous. approximate area of 2.33 km2. The highest are in meters. Lower case letters point on the island is 90 m above sea level refer to transect sites. next page

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A sparse growth of seagrasses at the reef flat (3 m depth) of Nablag (station g)

through the narrow Salangan channel that separates Mararison Island from Panay Island. Dense stands of branching A cropora Layag-layag (station a) (A. form osa, A. n ob ilis) interspersed with Kawit (station d) Located near Nablag islet on the northwest, colonies of Hydnophora rigida, Pontes rus, the reef flat in this station extends from the Unlike the reef on the north side, Kawit on and P. cylindrica characterize the reef slope shore to about 400 m to the reef crest. The the southeast end of the island has a gradu­ at the western end of the island at Nablag reef flat is an extension of a shallow lagoon ally sloping substrate that ends on a steep­ where live hard coral cover is high (69%). separating Nablag islet from the island. The sided channel (Kawit Deep, 30-40 m depth) In addition, many colonies of P. reef front at the 10-20 m depth is dissected that connects with the Salangan channel. damicornis, S. hystrix and various species by ridges alternating with sand or rubble The reef flat is composed of barren rock, of corymbose and caespitose A cropora are (spur and groove zone). Further, down the sand, numerous small coral heads, inter­ present. slope to a terrace at the 50 m depth, the spersed with beds of the long-spined black Live hard coral cover in the reef flats substratum is composed of fine sand and u rch in (Diadema setosum). S m all (63-65%) and reef slopes (36-47%) of silt that have been washed form a small tridacniids are numerous on barren rocks transect stations on the northwest side of creek and rockfall on the island. The reef on the reef flat. The reef slope at Kawit is the island (Layag-layag, Gatusan, flat (3 m depth) and the ridges at the reef also marked by numerously large coral Amihanan) are relatively high and more slope (10 m) are densely covered by vari­ boulders and bare rocks. diverse than reefs on the south side of the ous species of scleractinian corals. island (see next section). Talisay (station e) Live hard coral cover at the offshore Gatusan (station b) reef platform at Gui-ob was 24% in 1994. A seagrass bed in front of the barangay is Large colonies of Turbinaria sp., P orites The reef flat and the spur and groove for­ denuded and silted. Boat traffic is busy in lutea, plate-like M ontipora and faviids are mations at the reef slope in this station are the area. The reef flat gradually slopes to a found on rock mounds, while numerous contiguous with Layag-layag. bare sandy bottom at 10-15 m depth that is small colonies of Anacropora mathei are marked by a few isolated rock outcrops. A found in rubble and sandy areas. Amihan (station c) short spur and groove zone is present along Seven permanent transect stations, the seaward edge of the reef slope. about 300-500 m from each other, were The prominence of spur and groove forma­ established on the island’s fringing reef. An tions diminishes in this northeast station as Punta Ayo (station f) additional station (Gui-ob) was marked at the reef slope is marked by wider expanses a nearby offshore reef located about 2 km of sand and rubble compared with the pre­ Small boulders mark the beach and the reef south of the island. vious station. A moderate sub-surface cur­ flat of this station. Similar to Talisay, the rent at 10 m depth becomes discernible as bottom profile gradually slopes to a barren water mass from Cuyo East Pass collides rocky substrate at the 3-5 mm depth before with the eastern tip of the island and flows reaching a relatively flat and sandy bottom.

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High cover of live hard corals characterizes the northern side Concrete culverts are piled to form an artificial reef habitat at the of Mararison Island, such as the reef slope (10 m depth) of 20 m depth in Gui-ob (station h). These concrete habitats were Gatusan (station b) deployed May-June 1995 by the island fishers as a component of their legally declaring 28 ha of Gui-ob reef as a marine sanctuary

Mono-specific beds of branched P orites A recruit of branching hard coral on a Noteworthy fauna and flora concrete artificial reef a year after deploy­ annae are common. ment in Gui-ob (station h) Over 100 species of hard corals under 45 genera are found in Mararison Island. Es­ Nablag (station g) timated by a line-intercept transect, live Located at the western end of Nablag islet, hard coral cover in the reef flat on the north­ the short reef flat extends about 300 m from west side of the island (Layag-layag, the sloping edge of a rocky headland. The Gatusan, and Amihanan) is high (63-65%) surge zone is marked by numerous boul­ and is characterized by a highly varied assemblaged of encrusting, massive, and ders that are barren except for a few growth of Pocillopora spp. Sandy channels slope branching corals. Although dense colonies gradually to a depth of 10-15m where of corals are found on the ridges at the reef slope, live hard coral cover estimate is mono-specific bands of Acropora formosa, lower (36-47%) because of rubble and A. nobilis, H ydnophora rigida abound. A sandy areas that alternate with spur forma­ dense bed of seagrass is located in a nearby tions. Dominant coral species are massive cove and a sandbar that separates Nablag and branching P o rites (P. lutea, P. annae, islet from Mararison Island. P. cylinrica), Seriatopora hystrix, Pocillopora damicornis, Heliopora Gui-ob (station h) coerulea, and encrusting Montipora (M. Gui-ob reef is one of eight offshore reef tuberculosa, M. danae). Sm all colonies of platforms in the island. Located about 2 km corymbose and caespitose Acropora are south of Talisay (station e), the 0.2 ha reef also abundant, but small colonies of faviids platform rises from deep water to a depth ( Favia speciosa, F. favus, F. matthai, Of 20-25 m. In May-June 1995, nine mod­ Goniastrea retiformis) are present. The ules each of three designs of concrete arti­ foliose corals Echninopora lamellosa and ficial structures were deployed by the is­ Merulina ampliata are also conspicuous in land community as an integral part of a these stations. municipal ordinance that declared Gui-ob Based on 1994 and 1995 fish visual reef a no-fishing zone (i.e., marine sanctu­ census, Mararison Island boasts of 404 ary) in 1996. The marine sanctuary encom­ species of reef fishes from 43 families. passes a total of 28 ha or 12% of the is­ page 28 land’s total reef area.

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branching Acropora on the reef slope of of sociology, economics, and marine biol­ coral reefs ... from p 25 Nablag. Numerous coral heads and ogy. Research studies conducted on the bommies in all stations are inhabited mostly island include an assessment of marine Most abundant are the damselfishes con­ by Chromis retrofasciatus, Dascyllus communities, traditional marine resource sisting of 70% o f fish censused. Eight spe­ reticulatus, Pomacentrus moluccensis, and use, community organizing and capacity cies from three families comprised more Pseudanthias huchtii. The jewel damselfish building, and generation of alternative live­ than half of the fish counted, namely: Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus are like­ lihood such as seaweed farming, fish cage damselfishes, Chromis ternatensis, C. wise prominent in the many crevices that culture, and animal husbandry. The feasi­ retrofasciatus, C. viridis, Pomacentrus mark the reef substrate. Aggregations of bility of enhancing depleted stocks of aba- moluccensis, P. lepidogenys, and D ascyllus Pomacentrus coelestis, including various lone and top shell on the island is likewise reticulatus; w ra s s e s , Cirrhilabrus tiny labrids, are numerous in sandy areas a major concern. The biological and socio­ cyanopleura; and, anthiinaes, Pseudanthias between barren rocks scattered on the reef economic impacts of concrete artificial h u c h tii. In terms of total biomass, flat of Kawit, Talisay, Punta Ayo, and habitats on reefs under protective manage­ damselfishes (29%) rank first, followed by Nablag. Large acanthurids (Naso sp.) and ment is a continuing activity. fusiliers (16%) and surgeonfishes (12%). transient residents such as fusiliers and Chromis lepidogenys are abundant, surgeonfishes form the basis of the island’s Economic value and social benefits particularly at the reef flats (up to 3 m reef fishery. The reef resources of Mararison Island are depth) of Layag-layag, Gatusan, and About 40 species of seaweeds have the object of exploitation by a small-scale Amihanan whereas, Cirrhilabrus been identified in the island. Species of fishery on which more than 90% of the is­ cyanopleura are conspicuous at mid-water green, brown, red, and blue-green algae land’s population of 540 individuals de­ on the reef slope (10 m depth). Schools of dominate the algal community. The brown pend. Four major types of fishing gears arc Chromis ternatensis and C. viridis are abun­ algae Sargassum polycystum and Padina employed by island fishers, namely: spear dant and seek shelter on dense beds of m inor produce the highest annual biomass, gun without (free dive) and with compressor followed by the red algae, Dictyosphaeria (hookah), gill nets, and scoop net. About cavernosa, Boodlea composita, and 70 kg of fish can be caught per operation Codium edule. Lyngbya majuscula is the of a variety of gill nets (e.g., set, drive-in, dominant blue-green algae. Livelihood options ... from previous page drift). Spear fishing by free dive and by Five species of seagrasses which cover compressor can catch about 30 kg of fish REFERENCES 0.2 km2 of the reef have been identified. per operation. Catch comprises mostly These include Cymodocea rotundata, Agbayani RF. Community fishery resource man­ surgeonfishes and fusiliers. Annual fish Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, agement in Malalison Island, Philippines, yield from the reef in 1991 and 1992 was pp. 209-219. In Bagarinao TU, Flores EECSyringodium isoetifolium, and Thallassia estimated at 5.8 t per km2. (eds) Towards Sustainable Aquaculturehemprichii. in Southeast Asia and Japan. SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Iloilo, Philippines. Legal protection Agbayani RF and S Siar. 1994. Problems Scientific en­ importance and research countered in the implementation of a com­ The reef fishery of Mararison Island, just Mararison Island is one of three island munity-based fishery resource manage­ like elsewhere in the country, is character­ ment project, p. 149-160. In RS Pomeroycommunities of Culasi, Antique. Among ized by an open access system whereby (ed) Community Management and Com­other candidate areas in Panay Island, the mon Property of Coastal Fisheries in Asia fishers exploit the fishery anywhere by any island was chosen in 1991 by SEAFDEC/ and the Pacific: Concepts, Methods and means to take any amount possible. This AQD to be the pilot site for a community- Experiences. ICLARM Conf. Proc.45, 189 system continued until 1991 when the in­ based and development-oriented research p. stitution of advocacy and capacity-build­ Aqua Farm News. March-June 1996. SEAFDECproject on fishery management. The project AQD: Iloilo, Philippines 14: 2,3. ing among fisherfolks was initiated. To takes on a multi-disciplinary approach to Baticados D and RF Agbayani. 1997. Case date, the island community has succeeded, address the widespread degradation of ma­ Study of the Institutional Arrangements in through a municipal ordinance, in legitimiz­ the Fisheries Co-Management onrine ecosystems that exacerbates the impov­ ing the establishment of a no-fishing zone Malalison Island, Culasi, Antique.erishment of coastal fishermen. It involves SEAFDEC AQD: Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philip­ at Gui-ob reef. The legal institution of a the collaboration of the major stakeholders pines. sanctuary at Gui-ob reef may further en­ who arc the local fisherfolk, the local gov­ SEAFDEC / AQD and PROCESS Foundation. hance the anticipated impact on the island’ s Terminal Report: Community Organizingernment, non-government organization, reef fishery of concrete artificial reef habi­ and Institutional-Building Programand in researchers from the major disciplines Malalison Island, Culasi, Antique. January- tats in the marine sanctuary. December 1992.

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M anagement THE FUTURE MALALISON Other reefs adjacent to the island remain under some form of protective management through the collaboration of a fishermen’s The future of Malalison rests on these children association, local resource management council, and the island barangay and mu­ who are blessed with the charm and innocence of youth, nicipal councils. In Gui-ob and Buganti still expectant of what lies ahead. The promise of Malalison reefs, the recent deployment of concrete artificial reefs serves as a focus for the over­ should fully belong to them. all effort on reef management by the island community, as these structures are ex­ pected to enhance fish recruitment by in­ creasing habitat complexity. Although only Gui-ob reef remains strictly closed to any form of exploitation, other reefs may also be considered to be under the same status after conflicts in exploiting the reef fishery are resolved by the fisherfolks themselves. Other management options such as mesh- size limits of fishing nets arc under con­ sideration. Except for spear fishing with compressor, destructive fishing practices such as m uro-am i, blast and cyanide fish­ ing have been banned.

Recommendations

The experiences gained in Mararison Island over the year may hopefully be replicated in other parts of the country. For instance, the identification and the resolution of con­ flicts in resource utilization among the is­ land fisherfolks are significant develop­ ments in m obilizing and in empowering the island community to manage their fishery resources. The involvement of major stakeholders in formulating coastal man­ agement schemes that are acceptable to a variety of interest offers promising results. Moreover, the collaboration among re­ searchers from various disciplines ensures a holistic approach to village-based reef management, perhaps the only viable op­ tion remaining in surmounting further marginalization of coastal fisherfolks.

REFERENCE

The Philippine Coral Reef Atlas. Coral Reef Information Network, University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute. In press.

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