Reef Check Promotes Cebu's Underwater Beauty

REEF CHECK PHILIPPINES AND PARTNERS PROMOTE
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY TOURISM IN CEBU


The Philippines is the center of the global marine species diversity and Cebu is one of the areas in the country teeming with this diversity in all their glory. Our shores have over 2,000 species of fish, 550 corals, over 3000 shells and almost 1000 species of algae. Every year more species are being discovered right on our shores, our very backyard. This is a global natural heritage that should be a national source of pride. However, these underwater treasures need to be protected and promoted. There is a need to increase awareness of their economic, natural and tourism importance.

Reef Check Philippines, a watchdog of the of the country’s coral reef health, together with numerous partners is organizing the 1st Cebu Underwater Photography Contest and Event Party on Nov. 10 in the Nalusuan Island Resort Marine Sanctuary and Scubaworld Cebu in Punta Engano, Mactan, Cebu. The event is an initiative to highlight Cebu’s underwater beauty and to promote underwater photography-related tourism. The event is being organized also in partnership with Marine Awareness through Digital Photography (MAD About Us), a group of photographers that advocates photography standards to respect and care for the marine environment and its creatures.

Established in 1997, Reef Check is the world’s biggest non-government organization concerned with managing and preserving coral reef systems. It is the United Nations’ official community-based reef monitoring program, with Leonardo di Caprio as its international spokesperson. Reef Check already has presence in over 80 countries. Reef Check trains divers to check the health of coral reefs, helps in establishing marine protected areas and guidelines for sustainable fisheries and develops innovative solutions to the coral reef crisis. It also organizes media and fund-raising events to heighten the public’s awareness of coral reefs and their plight and especially for the Filipinos to appreciate the global marine heritage that we possess.

SubPix Cebu 2007 will also highlight the beauty of the Nalusuan Island Resort Marine Sanctuary. The event will also be attended by some of the country’s world class photographers and cinematographers such as Gutsy Tuason, Nonoy Tan and Marisa Floirendo and MAD About Us head Joel Uichico. The awarding and event party will also feature Cebu’s reggae band Peach Melba. Event partners include Jewelmer, DirectAquatic, TIMEX Philippines, Island Souvenirs, Cebu TV, Philippine Airlines, Manok ni San Pedro, Pido Prito, Pertma, Serenity Spa, Dermscape Medispa and Scotty’s Dive Center in Cebu Shangri-la.

Come to the event and the party to celebrate Cebu’s underwater beauty. For inquiries and ticket reservation, please call 2-813-1308 / 893-7252. For more information about Reef Check visit http://www.reefcheck.org/ and www.reefcheckphilippines.org.

Status of Philippine Coral Reefs

Philippine Summary

The coral reefs in the Philippines are estimated to cover 25,000 to 27,000 km2 in area. These reefs are spread over 7,100 islands and is only second to Indonesia in terms of area coverage. The Philippines has been recognized as part of the global center of biodiversity and a very recent study has indicated that it has the highest number of species per unit area (Carpenter and Springer 2005). The latter also hypothesized that the Philippines might be the ‘center of the center’ of marine shorefish species diversity. These findings underline the importance of Philippine coral reefs as a world natural heritage and the need for protection.

The threats to Philippine coral reefs are similar to most developing countries’ with high population growth rates and with coastal communities contributing a significant portion of the national population. This continued burgeoning of the country’s population is increasing its negative impact on the health of coral reefs as shown by trends in Reef Check indicators. Reef Check (http://www.reefcheck.org/) is the world’s largest coral reef NGO. It operates in 80 countries and started as a volunteer program basically functioning as a ‘citizen science’. This is the training of people to check the health of their own reefs. This gives people a sense of stewardship to their resources. Reef Check surveys specific ecological and human-impact indicators that are very easy for many people to identify. Reef Check has trained students, scuba divers, villagers, government agencies, other NGOs and even the military to survey the health of coral reefs. The data have been useful in determining the status of reefs and their problems and in monitoring the impact of initiatives that are supposed to address them.

The high-valued indicators have very low densities based on long-term Reef Check data and they seem to have not recovered yet. The density of Napoleon wrasse, a fish species listed under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species, has been consistently low and almost always zero in most coral reefs. The fate of the barramundi cod is similar. The groupers are in a slightly better state but they are still low in densities. This group of fishes is highly targeted especially in the live reef fish food trade to account for their low densities. Although these fishes are naturally low in abundance in the wild overfishing has pushed their densities much lower. Similarly, it is now very hard to find bumphead parrotfish in fished coral reefs. Sweetlips, snappers and moral eels are all very low in abundance. Reef Check data have indicated that these fishes are more abundant in protected reef areas.

The trends in the highly-targeted invertebrate indicators are not better. Sea cucumbers, lobsters, triton shell, and pencil urchins are very low in abundance. The triton shell and the pencil urchins are in fact very hard to find now in fished reefs. These organisms have been highly targeted by fishermen for the curio trade. Giant clams and banded shrimps are still found in many reefs but the impact of overfishing for the curio and the ornamental trade will continue to drive their abundance much lower.

Natural disturbances constitute a significant factor that negatively impacts the health of coral reefs. Typhoons are a normal occurrence in the Philippines. However, El Nino events (that seem to be more frequent) that have lead to the warming of the coastal waters and subsequent coral bleaching have led to widespread and increased mortalities. This is a serious problem since coral reefs provide shelter to many organisms that is a source livelihood to many fishermen. Coral reefs are also attractions to a tourism industry that has recently picked up in the Philippines. The El Nino event in 1998 was the most serious natural disturbance in Philippine reefs based on Reef Check data. The data indicate at least 20% coral mortality in the Philippines. There has been no obvious recovery yet in general. However, recovery has been recorded in protected reefs (no-take marine protected areas) such as the Apo and Danjugan Islands. These results indicate human impact exacerbates natural disturbances and that protection may ameliorate these negative impacts.

Reef Check Philippines Fund-Raising Event on Sept 15

Coral reefs are called the ‘rainforests of the sea’. These living structures harbor thousands of species of interdependent marine organisms. Coral reefs are also the largest living structures visible from outer space, and they have been around for over a hundred million years. Not only are coral reefs an endless source of fascination, their existence is a necessity for both humans and marine organisms alike. 350 million people rely on them for food and survival. 25 percent of all the fish species in the world call the coral reefs their home. And the antiviral and antibacterial drugs that could save you are based on chemicals extracted from reef organisms.

Today, these underwater wonders face an unprecedented crisis that has resulted in a coral reef loss of over 15 percent worldwide due to overfishing, global warming, blast and poison fishing. The recent oil spill in Guimaras also underlines the need to protect these underwater treasures. If nothing is done, an additional 30 percent will remain in a severely threatened state.

This is where Reef Check comes in. Established in 1997, Reef Check is the world’s biggest non-government organization concerned with managing and preserving coral reef systems. It is the United Nations’ official community-based reef monitoring program, with Leonardo di Caprio as its international spokesperson. Reef Check already has presence in over 80 countries.

Reef Check Philippines has an especially crucial job – the country sits at the global center of coral reef biodiversity, and is one of the world’s best dive destinations. It is also tagged as having 70 percent damaged or destroyed coral reefs and a biodiversity hotspot.

Reef Check Philippines holds events, courses, programs and activities that aim to teach the public about the value of coral reefs, the threats their health and solutions to the reefs’ existing problems. The organization works with business sectors such as tourism and diving industries to raise funds and increase awareness.

As its first major project, Reef Check Philippines will be holding a fund-raising photo and film exhibit entitled Visions of the Reef at the Rockwell Loft on September 15, 2006. The event aims to raise funds for Reef Check activities such as training fishermen to monitor the reefs in their areas, organizing surveys of the numerous reefs in the Philippines, facilitating the establishment of marine protected areas and conducting an awareness campaign about the extraordinary beauty of our coral reefs and the need to protect them.

‘Visions of the Reef’ will feature the stunning work of award-winning underwater photographer Gutsy Tuason and the beautiful footages of cinematographers Marissa Floirendo and Carina Escudero. There will also be musical performances by Ballet Philippines, Cynthia Alexander and Pinikpikan. Guest speaker is Mr. Federico Lopez, President of First Gen and will be hosted by Paolo Abrera and Angel Aquino. Presentors for this event include First Gen, Studio 23, Conservation International, DHL, Jewelmer, Aquamundo, First Philippine Conservation Inc., Newsbreak, Hewlett Packard, Manila Bulletin, The Radio Partners Inc., and Campaigns Social Response. Other sponsors are Sea Air, TechnoMarine, Tris-Star, Direct Aquatic, Cuervo, CPKelco, Davao Pearl Farm Resort, El Nido Resorts, Solana Bezo Resort, Alegre Beach Resort, Ocean Adventure, Captn Gregg's Resort, Taal Lake Yatch Club, Oceana Resort and Garden Spa.

Come to the event and get a chance to win trips to world-famous Tubbataha Reef, Davao Pearl Farm and more exciting prizes!!! For inquiries and ticket reservation, please call 813-1308 / 893-7252 or text 0906-5025304 or (32) 345-3813 for Cebu Office. For more information about Reef Check visit www.reefcheck.org.