Raymundo, L., Diaz, R., Miller, A., Reynolds, T.

Baseline surveys of proposed and established marine sanctuaries on Bantayan Island, Northern Cebu

2011

UOGML Technical Report 141

64

"A total of nine declared and proposed Marine Sanctuaries were visited by researchers from University of Guam Marine Lab from June 13 to 17, 2011, with assistance from managers from the Batas Kalikasan Foundation. The purpose of this work was to perform baseline surveys of the benthic communities within three proposed marine reserves (Bunakan, Tabagak, and Tarong). Four established marine reserves (Jojo de la Victoria, Maricaban, Talangnan, and Hilantagaan) were resurveyed, to determine how effective their management plans were. Two sites, Kodia and Poblacion, were briefly snorkel surveyed, but no quantitative data were obtained due to time limitations (Kodia) and strong current (Poblacion). Surveys included qualitative site description including the location of the boundary corners, obtaining quantitative data on fish abundance and diversity using fish visual census, quantifying benthic composition using replicate line intercept transects, and describing mobile invertebrate abundance and diversity, and diversity, population structure and health status of the coral community, using replicate belt transects. Results showed that the marine reserves of JDL Victoria and Hilantagaan appear to be meeting management objectives of improving fish abundance and diversity. Abundance of both targeted reef fish species and all reef fish species were significantly higher at these two sites than at all others. Furthermore, comparisons with surveys done on JDL Victoria and Hilantagaan in 2007 revealed large increases in fish abundance within these reserves in the 2011 surveys. The Maricaban MPA, which is much younger than the other two, also appeared to have improved during the first year of no-take enforcement regulations, though the large abundance of fish was predominantly explained by a large herbivore population. However, this is characteristic of newly-established MPAs; herbivore species tend to respond rapidly to protection from fishing. The MPA at Talangnan, however, which was the oldest MPA of those surveyed (11 years) had obviously not been managed; it appeared to be in very similar condition as the proposed sites, which low diversity and abundance of fish, few target individuals, and low coral cover. The proposed sites all showed similar characteristics of dominance by extensive mixed seagrass beds, very limited coral reef area, high turbidity and silt, and depauperate fish communities of low abundance. Charismatic and economically important benthic macroinvertebrates were also of low abundance and diversity. While these sites would most definitely benefit from protection, these current attributes suggest that recovery would be slow, particularly if land use practices resulting in nearshore siltation do not change. The dominance by seagrass suggests that none of these sites had significant coral cover historically, and siltation has undoubtedly resulted in further reduction. Conclusions and recommendations for management are provided at the end of the report."