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Apo Island Apo island typhoon damage

Discussion in 'Surrounding Areas' started by sntmig, Jul 16, 2013.

  1. sntmig

    sntmig DI Forum Adept

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    Remember my post 12/30/2011 ??
    Unseen Sendang storm damage to the underwater areas of Dumaguete
    I am a surprised,maybe more, for the lack of posts/information/requests from Resorts,owners,,Dive shop managers,Dive guides,divers,PAMBI,Government,Barangy Capitains,Mayors.... about the magnitude of the destruction to our local (Dauin,Apo island) reefs and dive sites..
    We really need to address the situation NOW !!..(maybe too late )..Not only are many corals totally destoyed,many are dying still, because of fine silt that is robbing them of much needed sunlight..or..are overturned so again,no sunlight.
    It appears that local interest ( Apo,Pambi,Siliman,Government) are not acting fast enough...
    "These are your reefs and corals and fishes,they are also what makes MANY tourists come to this area..
    Why no meetings to discuss this ?? and maybe soulutions?..
    This effects many of us in the dive/snorkel/tourist buisness on the current and future ,of this area.....
    The persons living along the Eastern sides are very fortunate that it was low tide ,,. so no destruction from the huge wave action...BUT,... what suffered were ,all the corals along the eastern side of Negros and Apo..

    From Negros Chronicle..
    Apo 99% diving site wreched

    July 14, 2013

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    APO ISLAND DAUIN, Negros Oriental —- The Apo Island Philippines’ fish sanctuary, once known to be teeming with marine life is left devastated and now resembles a coral graveyard. But there is
    still Hope or Ezperanza (in Spanish) amid devastation in one of the world’s best marine sanctuaries.

    Everything appeared to be normal on the surface off the waters of world famous dive site Apo island but underneath its blue waters, ninety nine (99%) percent of the world reknown reefs of Apo Island’s Marine Sanctuary in its southeastern portion have been virtually wiped out by strong storm surges of two super typhoons Sendong in 2011 and Pablo in January 2012. Only 50% is left of the coral reef fish population in the affected areas.

    This was revealed by research-divers of the Sillman University marine laboratory, the International Greenpeace Ocean Defenders and the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation who conducted an underwater reef check, survey and evaluation at the Marine protected areas of Apo Island on its impacts due to the two typhoons that badly hit the Island of Negros Oriental.

    As you know, Apo island of Dauin, Negros Oriental, is the site of one of world’s best community-managed marine reservation areas. It is however, the most-threatened due to climate change. Apo underneath, which is home of the Coral Triangle, is considered among Asia’s important global centers of marine bio-diversity.
    MORALE BOOSTER
    Sea environmentalists’ morale were boosted with the arrival in Apo island, of the Greenpeace’s largest vessel the Esperanza (photo on p. 1) as they started their Philippine leg if the Ocean Defenders tour of Southeast Asian seas.
    From Thailand, they sailed di

    ect to Apo island for a reef check of Apo island’s world famous underwater colorful coral reef formations.
    They wanted to evaluate and expose the effects of typhoons Sendong and Pablo here which caused millions of pesos worth of destruction to marine life.

    Mark Dia, regional ocean-defenders campaign manager, reported the following information about their underwater reef-check of Apo Island:
    GREENPEACE REPORT:
    “Reefs in Apo Island’s Marine Sanctuary, in the southeastern side of the island were severely damaged by typhoon Sendong in 2011 and Typhoon Pablo in 2012. Researchers estimate coral damage at 99%. Coral reef fish abundance also declined by 50%. Reefs on the Northern side of the island were unaffected by the storms and remain intact.

    AMONG WORLD’S BEST.
    “ Apo Island’s community-managed marine sanctuary is considered one of the best of its kind in the world. Established in the mid1980s, the sanctuary became a beacon of hope that damaged reefs can, with proper protection, management, and community buy-in, be restored back to health. The sanctuary was key to the increase of fish populations in the area, providing multiple benefits to coastal folk.
    “The sanctuary was also instrumental in causing marine life to thrive beyond the southeastern coast of the island, making the waters around the entire island a haven for sea turtles and other marine species.

    TRAGIC TYPHOONS.
    “But tragedy struck due to two catastrophic typhoons. Strong storm surges decimated the corals and washed them ashore. The sanctuary, once known to be teeming with marine life was left devastated and now resembles a coral graveyard.
    “Divers from Silliman University, Coastal Conservation and Education foundation, and Greenpeace surveyed the massive coral damage in Apo Island. The documentation of the reef check in Apo island is part of the activities around the visit of the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza which arrived Tuesday in the Philippines

    OTHER SIDE: SAFE.
    “Fortunately the reefs on the other side of the island were spared. But while the damage to the sanctuary was significant not all was lost because marine life around the island was already healthy. Turtles continue to feed around the island and the fish, despite reduced populations, still flourish.

    HOPE AND MODEL
    “Apo Island’s success story has always been a model of hope for the Philippine seas. Today, although its sanctuary is destroyed, the active and cooperative efforts of the community, academe, and local government show that there is hope for other devastated reefs around the country.

    WARNING:
    “Greenpeace believes that the damage to the reef is a warning of things to come if our coastal resources aren’t fully protected. The Philippine seas is currently facing a two-pronged challenge of marine ecosystems degradation and overfishing. This is compounded by other stressors such as climate change, as in the case of Apo Island.
     
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