TawiTawi-ReefAssessment-Feb2009

TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS First Interim Report A Project Proposal for the Establishment of a Community Commercial Coral Farm for High Value Marine Aquarium Trade Hard Corals (Scleractinia, Milleporina, Helioporacea) & Limited Soft Corals (Alcyonacea) Province of Tawi Tawi Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao - ARMM Republic of the Philippines

Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program is financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented in partnership with the Mindanao Economic Development Council

February 2009

TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS First Interim Report A Project Proposal for the Establishment of a Community Commercial Coral Farm for High Value Marine Aquarium Trade Hard Corals (Scleractinia, Milleporina, Helioporacea) & Limited Soft Corals (Alcyonacea) Province of Tawi Tawi Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao - ARMM Republic of the Philippines

Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program is financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented in partnership with the Mindanao Economic Development Council

February 2009

TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – February 2009

CONTENTS

PREFACE

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SUMMARY

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CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS ………………………………………………..

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Site Lato Lato Site Tangu Site Laa Site Sanga Sanga

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7 9 13 17

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GEM AQUACULTURE STAFF TRAINING

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REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

PREFACE Under the agreed Scope of Works noted in the contract agreement, recent works undertaken in the Tawi Tawi were with the following premise. “Mr. Don E. Baker will be engaged as Coral Farming Consultant to the Mariculture Group of the GEM Business Development Team. He will report to Mariculture Team Leader Stanley Swerdloff, and will be assisted in his field work by Mariculture Team technical assistants. Mr. Baker will determine the technical and business feasibility of commercial coral farming, with a targeted output to the world-wide marine aquarium market.”

Works commenced on January 30th, 2009 to implement coral farm feasibility project works to: -

Conduct approximately three weeks of site surveys to determine suitable coral farming areas, with particular reference to offshore islands with clean water and suitable substrate

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Identify potential coral grower groups (primarily MNLF clusters)

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Undertake a one-day training of Mariculture Team staff in coral culture techniques

This Report is presented as a fulfillment of the USAID requested interim assessment of on site works.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

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SUMMARY

Considered the most biodiverse ecosystem type on Earth, coral reefs harbor 1 of every 4 marine species documented globally. Only 10% of the existing coral reef ecosystems of the Pacific region have been fully explored and species catalogued. It has been determined that a minimally productive acre of a coral reef can produce an equivalent of more than 75,000 aquarium size small coral colonies in one year (Borneman, 2001). This perhaps is why coral farming efforts are underway in IndoPacific region to cater too the growing international marine aquarium trade. With regards to assessing the coral reef health and conditions in the Tawi Tawi region, it is entirely possible to even identify new species of corals and fishes that would add more variety to the marine aquarium trade. This brief coral reef survey was commenced with the idea / plan of determining those areas with the ‘best fit’ conditions to sustainably accommodate a Provincial coral farming endeavor to cater to the international marine aquarium trade markets. The very first ‘best fit’ criterion for site suitability is the abundant presence of market demand coral types that comprise primarily of: -

Colorful hard (S Scleractinia, Milleporina, Helioporacea) branching types (i.e. Acropora, Porites, Anacropora)

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Colorful soft corals – but limited to non-toxic types

With the above in view, two major site categories are to be determined through field site visits and investigations: -

Community Coral Farm Units (CCFU) / offshore areas suitable with available, willing, and qualified manpower to maintain underwater coral culturing tables (CCT)

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A receiving / holding / shipping (RHS) site that will not only be able to receive cultured corals from the CCFU but also be able to culture additional coral stocks to ensure shipment quality & quantity.

To address the tentative site survey selection, and start planning the full spectrum logistics involved with this mariculture endeavor, the criteria for determining the ‘best fit’ locations for the above two categories are also as follows. ¾ No high population centers close by (i.e. considerations of nutrient / eutrophication affection/s & of course, security of the seedlings) ¾ No coastal agriculture/plantation/construction runoff affections that reduce light transmission to reef & cause eutrophication conditions (present & future dev) ¾ Good water clarity/visibility and stable temperature year round (to concurrently culture a higher number of genus types)

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

¾ Good water movement from tidal changes and area current flow but not strong flows ¾ Closeness of farm sites to transport product to market - via specialized carrier boat for longer transport to simple boats for short distances. 'Market' is basically an adequately arranged/setup Receiving/Holding/Shipping facility (RHS) to buy the product from farmers. ¾ Available coastal fisher communities to provide manpower to maintain CCTs. ¾ RHS must be close by air cargo facilities to start/begin the international export train of value enhancement / appreciation.

Indicator species, such as the presence of or lack of presence, were used to determine the overall health of the site area. Such types of marine life used are: -

Sea urchins Butterfly fishes Giant clams (Tridacna)

The distribution and abundance of these types of marine life can often be directly correlated with the distribution and abundance of the live corals. For example, if a coral reef site is adversely affected by traumatic environmental conditions, such as pollution, over harvesting, and aberrant fishing methods (explosives & chemicals), their health will deteriorate. This deterioration can often be detected by observing the above types of marine life. In short, if a reef site harbors several types of coral eating butterfly fishes then it may be construed that there is an adequate abundance of live coral present to cater to their daily sustenance. Site specific parameters for several Tawi Tawi regional coral reef sites were assessed in this Interim Report. Additional reef sites in the Province will be assessed Feb 13th to 17th. At each site, digital underwater photographs were taken of both hard and soft corals found there. In addition, time and duration of the assessment was recorded along with GPS data via a Magellan type hand held unit or navigational chart reference. In addition to live corals present, dead skeleton sections and pieces were observed to assess what types of corals that once thrived at the site area prior to explosive or chemical fishing methods affecting the reef bottom but could very well be re-grown in the site. It is important that there are more than a few coral reef sites to locate CCTs so as to ensure optimum availability of cultured coral products for international export. Locating CCTs on one or two coral reef sites could seriously jeopardize product availability if there are any future aberrant events that would affect underwater farm production. With more sites available for CCT deployment, the more assurance of product quantity and quality.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

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CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS

FIELD SITE ASSESSMENTS Site Quick Suitability Code 1

Site unacceptable / no corals / no security / poor water parameters [visibility, pollution, boat traffic]

2

Site partially acceptable for soft corals and not hard corals

3

Site moderately acceptable for hard & soft corals, limited security, limited CCT locations, limited donor corals

4

Site acceptable; hard & soft corals available but not abundant; security acceptable; CCT deployment space limited

5

Site acceptable; donor hard & soft corals readily available; security acceptable; CCT ok for 10 + units

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

January 30th, 2009 Site Name:

SITE Lato Lato

Time of Water Entry: Time of Water Exit:

1630 1720

GPS Data:

05 – 03 - 56 N 119 – 47 – 44 E

Site Grade

3

This Acropora sp. was found detached from any solid reef base rock and laying on the soft silt sea grass bottom and transferred to a coral rock, whereas, the colony would have a better chance for base reattachment

An excellent pink color variation of Acropora millipora that would be high in the aquarium market demand if successful in seedling planting.

This Acropora sp. was found attached to a loose coral rock buried in the sea grass silt sand

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

This is an excellent yellow/gold version of Acropora millipora. This colony was found detached from any hard base and loose on the sea grass silt sand bottom.

A Nepthea soft coral found in the sea grass soft bottom.

Finger Leather soft coral / Lobophytum sp.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

February 2nd, 2009 Site Name:

SITE Tangu

Time of Water Entry: Time of Water Exit:

1615 1720

GPS Data:

05 - 02 - 37 N 119 – 50 - 06 E

Site Grade

4

Montipora digitata is an excellent candidate coral for farming.

Acropora millipora / pink branches with yellow tips. This is a delicate coral to culture but with good reef SSP can be an excellent coral for trade.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

This plate type of Montipora can also be cultured with a plug/mount made with a ‘v’ slit across the base.

A gray/blue variety of a Montipora sp. coral, where both the plate sections and the central branches can both be cultured through fragmentation.

An Acropora / possible species: humilis / nice coloring of green/blue branches with blue tips.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

The purple/blue color of this Acropora is a high market demand type.

This Acropora (possible species – nobilis) shows how it has settled on the reef bottom and grown its branches, whereas, this is a ‘natural’ concept of farming.

Another excellent color variety of Acropora.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

This is a nice golden/yellow Acropora that can provide up to 30 fragment seedling starts from the outer tips. This donor coral will then re-grow its tips within 4 to 5 months usually – completely masking any prior ‘harvest’ of its tips.

A ‘fire’ coral / Millepora dichotoma is virtually unknown in the marine aquarium trade and is an excellent species to culture as such usually has rapid branching growth.

Acropora florida is an excellent species to farm, whereas, the Sabah, Malaysian farm is now selling their stocks to EU.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

February 4th, 2009 Site Name:

SITE Laa

Time of Water Entry: Time of Water Exit:

1130 1240

GPS Data:

04 – 56 - 55 N 119 – 52 - 20 E

Site Grade

5

This is an excellent photo showing not only Porites branching corals but three (3) adult giant clams (Tridacna maxima)

This is a large Acropora colony that can provide perhaps over two hundred seedling plantings

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

Color variations of this Porites and Montipora corals can provide more than 200 seedlings without permanent damage to the donors. Again, the tips are only fragmented off from the donor colonies and the colonies will re-grow their tips within a few months.

These branching Montipora, Hydnopora colonies can provide a good, sustainable supply of seedling fragment plantings.

The area is affected by marine aquarium fish collectors using cyanide, whereas the coral show to upper right is dead and having brown algae covering it. The lower Acropora and nearby branching Montipora colonies seem unaffected.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

Acropora sp. that shows excellent growth and branching and a good colony for seedling harvesting / possibly 50 seedlings.

An excellent cluster of several different color variations of Montipora sp. that can provide upwards of 2 to 300 seedlings.

This photo shows a clear area nearby the mother/donor corals that can have 3 to 4 CCT units deployed. Each CCT would culture about 400 seedlings.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

Additional open areas between the donor coral regions that can have several CCTs deployed.

Another picture/view of more than one colony of Montipora with different color variations

This golden Acropora was partially buried in the reef sandy bottom and would be an excellent seedling donor for not only farming but also for reef replanting & conservation efforts.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

February 4th, 2009 Site Name:

SITE Sanga Sanga

Time of Water Entry: Time of Water Exit:

1130 1240

GPS Data:

05 – 04 - 57 N 119 – 45 - 35 E

Site Grade:

3

This reef front exists in a relatively ‘high energy’ zone in which heavy/large surf can be present. Branching corals are few as the wave force and surge will prevent such growth formations with the Montipora and Acropora colonies. Also there was quite a bit of suspended and floating plastic waste and garbage present.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

Approximately 30 to 40 meters away from the reef edge, this picture show soft coral with a pink colored Montipora colony.

Another coral mound with Montipora and soft corals, whereas, the color variations are good donors for seedlings.

Soft corals, Montipora plate and branching corals intermittently present on this reef front location – between open sections of coral silt and rubble.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

A nice pink variation of Acropora millipora but very few such colonies were present in this site.

A single/sole colony of either a Montipora or Porites branching coral. Seedling availability in this site is limited.

This Acropora cytherea is poorly attached to the reef base rock and will eventually detach in the wave surge force.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

An Acropora coral colony ripped off the reef base rock possibly by the high wave surge that can occur at this site. This also can affect seedlings inside a CCT that could also detach from the netting and clump/bunch together in a pile and killing them. (prior experience in trying to culture corals in moderate to high energy zones in Sabah, Malaysia.

A nice Pachyseris coral but only one colony was found and should not be used for seedling plate fragmentation for reasons of conservation.

This type of reef bottom predominated in this reef front site; with few areas safe for CCT deployment without securing / anchoring.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

The following reef sites were visited on February 4th, 2009, whereas both areas did not have sufficient criteria to categorize for reasons of having very little viable live coral coverage located in easily accessible conditions that are not safe to potential CCFU manpower and CCT security. Sangasiapu Reef GPS Data:

05 – 03 - 56 N / 119 – 47 – 44 E

Simunul Reef GPS Data:

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04 – 57 - 62 N / 119 – 49 – 50 E

TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

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GEM AQUACULTURE STAFF TRAINING

GEM Aquaculture staff undertook three (3) training sessions (Jan 30th, Feb 2nd & 3rd) to demonstrate hands-on fabrications of: -

CCT (Coral Culture Table) & Deployment (1 small unit) Coral Plug/Mountings (48 units) Seedling Planting

GEM Aquaculture staff training was undertaken at the Lato Lato Hatchery site, whereas, such was undertaken with the kind permission of the present management of Mega Sardines company. In no manner or intension do these training sessions constitute the establishment of any actual coral farming endeavor; neither in the Lato Lato area of Tawi Tawi or in the Province itself. Staff from Mega Sardine graciously assisted in the fabrications and also learned from these training sessions.

Date: Jan 30th

Fabrication of the coral seedling plugs or mounts

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Date: Jan 30th

Fabrication of the demo Coral Culture Table (CCT)

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Date: Feb 2nd

Completion of the CCT and underwater deployment (quick works; less than 1 hour)

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Date: Feb 3rd

Live coral seedling mounting / to only show one (1) method used in the Solomon Islands.

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TAWI TAWI CORAL REEF ASSESSMENTS – FEB 2009

Sabah, Malaysia Seedling method with underwater / plumbing epoxy putty (non-toxic) / 2006 & 2007

Seedling delivery to CCTs in the Sabah, Semporna coral farm site.

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REFERENCES

Borneman, E. H. [2001]. Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History, TFH Publications & Microcosm Ltd., Neptune, NJ and Charlotte, VT, USA. 464p. Crosby, M.P., and Reese, E.S. [1996]. A Manual for Monitoring Coral Reefs With Indicator Species: Butterflyfishes as Indicators of Change on the Indo-Pacific Reefs, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], Silver Spring, MD, USA, 45p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior and Local Government. 2001. Philippine Coastal Management Guidebook No. 5: Managing Coastal Habitats and Marine Protected Areas. Coastal Resource Management Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cebu City, Philippines. 106p. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior and Local Government. 2001. Philippine Coastal Management Guidebook No. 7: Managing Impacts of Development in the Coastal Zone. Coastal Resource Management Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cebu City, Philippines. 108p Ellis S. and Ellis, S. [2002]. Recent Advances in Lagoon-based Farming Practices for Eight Species of Commercially Valuable Hard and Soft Corals - A Technical Report. Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA), Publication 147, 63p. Ellis S. and Sharron, l. [2002]. The Culture of Soft Corals (Order: Alcyonacea) for the Marine Aquarium Trade. Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA), Publication 137, 77p. English, S., Wilkinson, C., and Baker, V. Editors, [1994]. Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources, AIMS – Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, Townsville, Australia, 368p. Heeger, T., Cashman, M. and Sotto, F., Coral Farming as Alternative Livelihood, for Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Coral Reef Rehabilitation, [1999]. University of San Carlos, Marine Biology Section, Cebu, Philippines, 14p. Pattengill-Semmens, C., S.R. Gittings, and T. Shyka. [2000]. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: A Rapid Assessment of Coral, Fish, and Algae Using the AGGRA Protocol. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series MSD-00-3. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, Marine Sanctuaries Division, Silver Spring, MD, USA. 15p. REEF CHECK Survey Instruction Manual, Institute of the Environment, University of California at Los Angeles, USA, [No date]32p. Rogers, C.S., Garrison, G., Grober, R., Hillis, ZM., and Franke, M.A. [1994]. Coral Reef Monitoring Manual for the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, National Park Service – Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands, 92pp.

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