An Australian scientist and environmentalist reported that there has been a great amount of degradation of coral reefs, especially in the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The loss is primarily attributed to acute mortality events from crown-of-thorns starfish, coral bleaching and strong catastrophes, said the Director of the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies of James Cook University in Australia Dr. Terry Hughes, as he briefed a group of researchers, teachers, graduate students and representatives of local government units and government agencies in Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Cebu in the orientation-briefing on “Scale, Stock-recruitment Dynamics and the Global Decline of Coral Reefs” held recently at Silliman University.
In 2008, 19 percent of coral reefs in the world were categorized as “lost” or are unlikely to recover from deterioration, said Dr. Hughes, citing the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network report.
Hughes said that 15 percent were “critical” or were found to have 50 percent of coral loss, 20 percent were “under threat” or with 25 to 50 percent coral loss and 46 percent were “low risk.”
Along with this presentation, he highlighted the value of “no-take marine reserves,” particularly those managed by local communities, in biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.
“No-take marine zones” are areas in the ocean that are permanently cordoned off to allow for marine resources, especially fishes, to grow and reproduce. This method keeps fishing activities away from specific areas of the sea.
These no-take marine zones, he added, have been proven not only to protect coral reefs but also to increase the egg production of fishes.
In the Philippines, there are about 1,000 marine protected areas, some of them already declared as no-take areas, four of which are areas surrounding Apo Island, Sumilon Island, Mantigue Island and Selinog Island.
The lecture of Dr. Hughes, who was brought to Dumaguete by the Australian Embassy, was sponsored by the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project of the Philippine government to which Silliman University serves as assisting institution or consultant.
Professor Emeritus and Trustee of Silliman University and former DENR secretary Dr. Angel C. Alcala introduced Dr. Hughes as an internationally renowned scientist. (MBCN/JCT-PIA7)