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Philippine marine

biodiversity in WPS:

challenges and

opportunities

Deo Florence L. Onda, Ph.D.

The Marine Science Institute

University of the Philippines - Diliman

Philippines:

an archipelagic nation

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International Treaty LimitsExclusive Economic Zone

Coastal

Image: MA Juinio-Menez

Filipinos depend

on the seas for

different needs,

including food

PEMSEA, 2018

Ocean Economy contributes ~7% to GDP

WPS: An important fishing

grounds

134,244.25 MT Annual municipal fisheries production (2012)

North Philippine Sea / Philippine Rise Region

129,615.40 MT Annual municipal fisheries production (2012)

West Philippine Sea

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Municipal waters (15 km from the

shore) have higher fisheries

production per unit area than EEZ

Why is WPS EEZ important?

(1) Fisheries and food

(2) Habitat and ecological connectivity

(3) Undervalued ecosystem services

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Fisheries and Food

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38.6%

535,558 km2

50%

693,675 km2

11.4%

156,695 km2

WPS EEZ has

larger total

area than

municipal

waters

resulting higher

accumulated fisheries

production compared to

all municipalities

combined

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10 fishes /

km2

1 x 1 km

X 10 km2

MW

100

fishes

1 x 1 km

3 fishes /

km2

X 100 km2

EEZ

300

fishes

Higher density

(Municipal)

Lower density

(EEZ)

Higher accumulated

fisheries

In KIG, estimated to

have commercial

fisheries potential of

46 to 105 US$ /km 2

per year (Alino et al.,

1996)

Key is Exclusive Access

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Habitat and

Connectivity

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(1) Fisheries

(food supply) (2) Habitat

Coral reefs are the main marine

habitats sustaining fisheries and productivity of

Philippine Seas

PEMSEA 2018

Spratlys Group of Islands 12

https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/oceans/understanding-ocean-benefits/index.htm

Coral reefs are home to 25% of known marine species,

but coral reefs occupy an area of less than 1% of the

world’s oceans. 13

Healthy Reefs =

Food Security

Slide courtesy of W Campos, UPV14

Reefs depend on each other = Ecological Connectivity

SOURCE

SINK

(Villanoy et al., In prep)

KIG is an important source of larvae in the SCS Region

The reefs are

interconnected at

varying degrees.

Adjacent reefs are

stepping stones.

But most of the reefs

are in a sad state.

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WPS is an

important habitat

both for settling

(sink) and

release (source)

of larvae and

eggs

Thesis: Patrick Pata, 2015

Connectivity of offshore and nearshore ecosystems

Allozyme markers

• Linckia laevigata

• Tridacna crocea

Ravago et al. 2001, Juinio-Meñez et al. 2003, Juinio-Meñez et al. 2004

Strong connectivity between offshore and nearshore reef ecosystems

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Undervalued Ecosystem

Services

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“to raise awareness and convey the

(relative) importance of ecosystems

and biodiversity to policy makers.” (de Groot et al., 2012)

Services in terms of $$$$?

Global estimates of the value of ecosystems and

their services in monetary units (de Groot et al., 2012)

CORAL REEF Int.$/ha/yr

Provisioning services 55,724

Food 677

Raw Materials 21,528

Genetic resources 33,048

Ornamental resources 472

Regulating services 171,478

Climate regulation 1,188

Disturbance moderation

16,991

Waste treatment 85

Erosion prevention 153,214

Habitat services 16,210

Genetic diversity 16,210

Cultural services 108,837

Aesthetic information 11,390

Recreation 96,302

Cognitive information 1,145

Total economic value 352,249

$350,000 /ha/yr

Coral Reef Ecosystem services value

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Limited to no access

Poaching, harvesting and

degradation

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Global average -

$35/m2

Penalty paid by US

Navy in Tubbataha

- $300/m2

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Other important habitats

Seaweeds Seagrasses

Photos: PROTECT WPS, Dr. Wilfred Santianez Photos: PROTECT WPS, Dr. Michael Roleda

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Fisheries and

Food

Undervalued

Ecosystem

Services

Habitats

(Corals)

Marine

Ecosystem

(WPS)

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160310-aquarium-saltwater-tropical-fish-cyanide-coral-reefs/

Protecting our seas and

oceans is tantamount to

protecting the future

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Marine and Coastal

Ecosystems = Monetary

Value PHP 23.701T

(in 2007 prices)

Public Policy (2017)

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160310-aquarium-saltwater-tropical-fish-cyanide-coral-reefs/

Overfishing and

destructive

fishing methods

lead to the

decrease of fish

and destruction of

their habitat

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Significant decline in

fish diversity, abundance

and biomass

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Care-CADRES 2017

Low biomass in areas with high diversity and abundance

Predicting Responses between

Ocean Transport and Ecological

Connectivity of Threatened

ecosystems in the West

Philippines Sea (PROTECT-

WPS)

Program Leader and Chief Scientist:

Deo Florence L. Onda, PhD

Coastal & Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP)

Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

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Evidence of direct

human activities

Photo: Care-Cadres, Dr. Hazel Arceo/Dr. Cesar Villanoy

Photo: PROTECT WPS – DENR-BMB

Reclamation - loss of 300 acres of coral

reefs which result in economic losses of

around $100 million each year (DFA,

2015)

Massive reclamation activities are

causing irreversible and widespread

damage to the biodiversity and ecological

balance of the West Philippine Sea

(South China Sea)

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/120683/100m-in-

economic-losses-incurred-yearly-due-to-chinas-

reclamation-in-disputed-seas#ixzz5iJNVpm1l

Implications to fish and

other species

populations?

Degrading Environment

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Plastics are reaching far flung places such as the

Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys

Predicting Responses between Ocean

Transport and Ecological Connectivity of

Threatened Ecosystems in the West

Philippine Sea (PROTECT-WPS)

April 25

April 26

April 27April 28-29April 30

May 1-3

May 3-5

RV Kasarinlan

MMOV Lapu-Lapu April 22 – Send-off

April 26

April 27April 30

May 1-3

Photos: PROTECT WPS, Kevin Labrador

Photos: PROTECT WPS, Dr. Deo Onda

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New and emerging threats: human pollution

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The Philippines and the changing environment

Sea surface temperature anomaly in the archipelago34

David et al. 2012

Extreme heating event

Increased ocean

temperature

Ocean acidification

Sea level rise

Extreme rainfall events

MSI’s calls

• Stop, deter and avoid activities that may further compromise - strictly implement laws and policies that are already in place;

• Multilateral marine protected areas (MPAs), along with international scientific cooperation on joint studies and expeditions in South China Sea

• Invest more on Science and Technology (S&T) in our EEZ

• Creation of a separate Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)

• MOVEMENT for RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP

• Public information and education – stop misinformation and disinformation

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Thank you!