3. With the reef being a global tourist attraction and local fishing ground, the park is threatened by non-decomposing garbage, which is increasing in the oceans each year. (Apo Reef belongs to the world’s best coral reef. While the poachers use modern speed boats, the coast guard and environmental volunteers use shabby bancas with improvised electric generators as engines. The Coral Reef Allince aims to conserve coral reefs all round the world. If we can’t protect what remains of the earth’s resources then what would remain of humanity? (Star Gazing in Apo Reef. (A large number of marine life depends on Apo Reef. The Reef spans a total of 27,469 hectares within the Sulu Sea (this also includes 11,677 hectare protective buffer zone. Some carnivores are Squirrel fish, Wrasse, and Risso's Dolphin. There are many threats to coral reefs, but by far the biggest is global warming. The main threat is plastic garbage which animals may mistake as food and can cause injury or harm. Coral reefs are among the most endangered ecosystems on our planet. ), (Ayin Tamondong is a photography and adventure enthusiast. Undeniably, Apo Reef is famous worldwide as it is one of the Philippines’ natural treasures. "Coral reef fish yields range from 20 to 25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs," said Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary. While the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Marine Park has been deeply affected by climate change and coral reef bleaching, the Park has witnessed many improvements due to the Park’s resilience. In Apo Reef’s case, pictures can provide a greater narrative than words. Right now, the Great Barrier Reef is experiencing the worst bleaching in its history. It is pretty obvious why you should really go to Apo Reef. However, what’s not so popular are the threats to Apo Reef’s world-famous beauty. 15 – 22 March 2010 N12 39.856 E120 53.266 – Apo Reef Club N12 39.463 E120 25.137 – Apo Reef With the expedition team complete with our writer Alya Honasan, our first Philippine journey for this leg was to Apo Reef. Sadly, the Philippine Coast Guard, due to the lack of support from the National Government, are badly equipped to protect the reef against poachers. There are threats to the property from shipping, marine litter, fishing, marine pollution and oil exploration. The beautiful underwater ecosystem of Apo Reef is one of the famous diving sites in the Philippines. The Grand Apo Reef, also considered as Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) lies 15 miles west of Sablayan in the Occidental Mindoro province. Alcala is known for his work in Apo Island, one of the world-renowned community-run fish sanctuaries in the country. You can email her at ayin_t@yahoo.com), (Camille Carag is a diving enthusiast and a member of UP Marine Biology Society.). Volunteers say that in an effort to keep up, the coast guard shoots blindly into the darkness of the night in the hopes of wounding a poacher to slow them down. Accrued revenues and costs from the sustainable use of Apo Island coral reef and fishery resources. Apo Reef Natural Park became a no-take zone in 2007, curbing illegal fishing activity. The coral reefs of the Philippines are the second-largest in Southeast Asia, covering 10,000 square miles (26,000 square kilometers). They say that in 2007, a salt water treatment facility was built on the island, but after only a few years of operation the facility failed due to the extreme salinity of the water and the high operating cost. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Apo Reef Club is located in Concepcion in the province of Occidental Mindoro in the Luzon Region. Apo Reef has a shallow lagoon surrounded by a mangrove forest that serves as a food source for several marine and coastal species. Compared to other offshore reefs, Tubbataha as a no-take zone has a higher fish biomass and that fish biomass in the nearby reef Jessie Beazly doubled since 2000, which is attributed to its proximity to Tubbataha (Dygico 2006). (A large number of marine life depends on Apo Reef. In 2006, WWF pegged Apo Reef's hard coral cover at 52%. Protected by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, you can’t just hire a boat and say “to Apo Reef.” You have to make arrangements with the Sablayan Tourism Office for a trip to the reef. Primary threats to Australia’s reef system include pollution from mining, pesticides, and sediment runoffs. Tinangkapaan Island is the smallest isle of the ARNP. The report is required under Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (section 54) and aims to provide a regular and reliable means of assessing reef health and management in an accountable and transparent way. Isolated, badly equipped and with no water, the coast guard and the volunteers continue to stay in their post day and night. Photo by Ayin Tamondong). Current threats mostly pertain to either present uses of the World Heritage site through tourism and some potential illegal fishing and those restricted to areas outside the site related to shipping and the accumulation of debris in the Sulu Sea from various sources outside the site. Construction and Sedimentation. Pollution poses another major threat to the health and stability of the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem. These facts provide the economic justification and show the need to manage coral reefs and their associated habitats and fisheries. The effects of years overfishing, lethal chemical pollution, destructive coral mining, sedimentation and climatic change had been detrimental, resulting in acidification, coral bleaching and ocean warming. We work collaboratively with communities to reduce direct threats to reefs in ways that provide lasting benefits to people and wildlife. It spreads over an area of 34 square kilometres, making it the second largest connecting coral reef in the world (the first place being occupied by the Great Barrier Reef of Australia). Mining companies in Queensland often release waste water into the Coral Sea, affecting corals and their reef-building activities. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The island’s diverse corals cover around 34 sq. km. Photo by: Camilla Carag). A series of coral reefs, spreading over an area of 34 square kilometres within the waters of Occidental Mindoro province in the Philippines, create the magnificent Apo Reef, the second largest contiguous coral reef system in the world and largest within the country. (Make-shift boats used by volunteers and coastguard to protect Apo Reef from poachers. Poachers coming all the way from the neighboring countries of Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Malaysia continue to be the biggest threat in preserving Apo Reef’s pristine ecosystem. The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a non-profit, environmental NGO that is on a mission to save the world’s coral reefs. In 1980 the then Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos declared Apo Reef a “Marine Park”. The ARNP is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Luzon. In 2006, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources listed the reef for the consideration of UNESCO World Heritage sites. 2nd photo by Ayin Tamondong). The Apo Reef Natural Park is made up of three islands, the largest of which is the Apo Reef. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat from destructive fishing techniques, including cyanide poisoning, over-fishing, or from deforestation and urbanization that result in harmful sediment spilling into the sea. Apo Reef, the largest atoll like reef in the Philippines, is a submerged platform that is a submerged of a 34 sqkm sub triangular northern m and southern atoll like reefs separated by a 30-m deep channel that is open to the west The channel runs east to west from 1.8 m to 30 m deep with a fine white sand bottom numerous mounds and patches of branching corals under the deep blue water. Sedimentation (losing soil from upland areas) is an extremely important cause of coral reef destruction. The Philippines is considered a Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the world’s most biologically rich countries – but also among the most threatened. The Apo Reef, also considered as the second largest atoll-like reef in the Philippines comprises of two isolated coral reefs that are disconnected by a 30-meter deep channel. Apo Reef Image source: sablayan-a-place-to-remember.blogspot.com. The Task Force Pawikan was created through an executive order in 1979, with the first research projects carried out by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources since the early 80’s, but it wasn’t until two decades later when full protection was officially granted to all species and included into the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 (RA-9417). Apo Island i­s one of the success stories that demonstrate a positive environmental tipping point. Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) or the Grand Apo Reef comprises of several islands, including the Apo Island, which is the biggest island, Apo Menor and … Discussion and Conclusions. Now humans are adding chemical sunscreens to the world’s already burdened reefs. Every five years, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority publishes an Outlook Report that examines the Great Barrier Reef’s health, pressures, and likely future. Abundant in colourful marine life, the Coral Triangle is the home of 2228 types of reef fish and houses about 605 reef building corals. Fish biomass breached 76 tonnes per square kilometer. Fresh water has to be delivered by boat from the nearest town which is hours away. Even this lagoon is made up of salt water. You have entered an incorrect email address! Hailed as the Jewel of Mindoro and a former world-class dive site, 30 years of destructive fishing has left much of Apo Reef in an abysmal state. (No freshwater is available in the island. THE Apo reef is the largest coral atoll-like reef in the Philippines and the second-largest contiguous coral reef in the world. They are dealing with many different threats, including: coastal development, warming seawater temperatures, stormwater runoff, deforestation, oil and chemical spills, and agriculture, just to name a few. Now steps have been taken to protect the Apo Reef. Be inspired and be dedicated yourself in protecting Apo Reef and share to others the difficulty that these honorable men protecting Apo Reef face. Anyone who is familiar with the Philippines or have even the slightest interest in the ocean surely has heard about Apo Reef. More than two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef’s living coral is at risk […] In 2007, Reef Check, the world's largest reef conservation organization, stated that only 5% of Philippines 27,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) of coral reef are in "excellent condition": Tubbataha Reef, Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, and Verde Island Passage off Batangas. This is the primary reason why renowned coral expert Dr. Charlie Veron hails it as ‘the centre of Earth’s marine diversity.’. Document the effect of disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic, to provide awareness of potential reef threats. Spikes in ocean temperatures cause a phenomenon called bleaching, which is often fatal. Document the effects of temperature, pH and current on the seasonal and annual variability of coral and fish populations You’ll see and may even swim with turtles, see multi-colored (from yellows to blues to greens) and … The Grand Apo Reef, also considered as Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) lies 15 miles west of Sablayan in the Occidental Mindoro province. Poachers coming all the way from the neighboring countries of Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Malaysia continue to be the biggest threat in preserving Apo Reef’s pristine ecosystem. The Apo islanders’ past fishing activities initiated the momentum towards negative tipping through unsustainable fishing practices. The Great Barrier Reef is vulnerable to threats that the Queensland government cannot control or influence, such as extreme weather events. The Season in Apo Reef Club is on October until July. 5 The reefs support extraordinary biodiversity, including more than 400 species of hard coral—12 of which are unique to the area—and more than 900 species of reef fish. It even earned him the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award. By: ... Other threats included clearing of vegetation in nesting sites, marine pollution and over fishing. Photo by: Ayin Tamondong), (Niccolo Lampa, Ayin Tamondong and Camilla Carag went to Apo Reef, Philippines on April 4,2014 until April 6,2014. For example: here are photos of the broken coral heads left behind when Tiger IV hit the reef next to Malolo Island in 2006. But it can influence other threats, such as the quality of water entering the reef from adjacent catchments—specifically agricultural run-off. The top predators of Apo Reef are sharks. Thus effective buffer zone arrangements are needed, and internationally supported legislation to protect the property from shipping threats, and greater enforcement of marine litter regulation on the High Seas by the appropriate international organisations would be a significant benefit to the property. So the question one must ask is, what can you do? It is a tranquil home managed by Swiss with professional diving experience. Hawksbill Sea Turtles and Risso's Dolphins are not normally food … The monitoring of biophysical indicators showed that reef health, fish biomass and densities have improved or stabilized. The Apo reef has a high diversity of corals and has and island with covered terrestrial vegetation. Even after full protection though, Apo Reef suffered extensive damage from the climate change-spurred super typhoon Caloy in 2006. We spent a few days and nights on a quaint Philippine style liveaboard named … The reef and the surrounding crystal clear waters are administered as a National Park under the Apo Reef Natural Park project. In October 2007, WWF and the local government spearheaded the total closure of Apo Reef—the country’s largest at 34 square-kilometers—for fishing. ... Apo Reef, located in the Mindoro Strait, is the Philippine’s largest reef system. Some decomposers of Apo Reef are sea cucumbers, sea slugs, and Christmas Tree Worms. Source: Vogt (1997), White and Cruz-Trinidad (1998). (Yes, it is hard to figure out what the future holds when our resources are not preserved. Data professional who is really passionate about data and life. Details. Photo by Ayin Tamondong). Go to Apo Reef and see for yourself the beauty of one of the remaining healthy coral systems in the world and the dedication of those who protect it against abusive poachers. These practices lead to habitat destruction and disintegration of the reef ecosystem. 2nd photo by Ayin Tamondong) In 1996 President Fidel Ramos declared Apo Reef a protected Natural Park. They just can’t keep up to catch these poachers. APO REEF, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO: IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS. Bird on brink of extinction flies over Apo Reef park. Undoubtedly, the desire to protect Apo Reef is abundant on the part of the coast guard and the volunteers but sadly what is lacking is the support for them to properly be able to fulfill their duties satisfactorily. The clear blue waters of the channel are teeming … Photo by: Camilla Carag). in the water temperatures brought on by the warming phase El Niño (TRNP 2012, Threats). The Reef spans a total of 27,469 hectares within the Sulu Sea (this also includes 11,677 hectare protective buffer zone. Such practices are dynamite fishing, Muro-Ami Japanese fishing methods, the use of cyanide, and small-mesh nets. This was followed up 3 years later by the local government of Sablayan that declared the Apo Reef a special “Tourism Zone and Marine Reserve”. Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) or the Grand Apo Reef comprises of several islands, including the Apo Island, which is the biggest island, Apo Menor and Cayos del Bajo. The Apo Reef is located at the northern tip of the Coral Triangle, a 5.7 million square-kilometre region that touches the sea of 6 countries, including Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. To further highlight how the odds are stacked against the coast guard and volunteers, it should be known that there is no fresh water supply in the island. However, what’s not so popular are the threats to Apo Reef’s world-famous beauty. If the plight of volunteers and the coast guard is made known to the majority, maybe there is hope that someone might take notice and give them the support they badly needed. Overexploitation of marine life disrupts the entire stability of oceanic life because it depletes essential plant and animal life.
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