LRCP Phase II

Establishing & monitoring MPAs

LRCP Phase II

Establishing & monitoring MPAs

The LRCP Phase II was undertaken between 2013 and 2018, following the successful completion of Phase I, and was founded under the objective of developing local capacity and ensuring the long-term protection and sustainable us of marine resources, through the establishment, and monitoring, of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern Leyte. 

From 2013 to 2018, CCC actively undertook biophysical surveys through SCUBA based protocols, at the request of the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte (PGSL) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Officers (PENRMO), to provide recommendations for the establishment of small-scale MPAs. In addition to undertaking prospective MPA assessments in Barangay coastal waters, CCC also provided spatial assessments on the performance of established MPAs, providing further recommendations to the MPAs respective efficacy. 

Throughout this time, bi-annual assessments of CCC's house reef, and local MPA, the Napantao Fish Sanctuary, were also undertaken, developing a long-term temporal ecological database, enabling the analysis of the MPA over time. 

Phase II of the LRCP was supported by the following project partners and established on three strategies; 

1 

Conservation education for the fisherfolk, schools, colleges, and Local Government Units (LGUs) of the Province

2

Capacity building of local stakeholders, Local Government Unit (LGU) members and national citizens

3

Undertake bio-physical surveys to provide spatial recommendations for the establishment of MPAs

1 

Conservation education for the fisherfolk, schools, colleges, and Local Government Units (LGUs) of the Province

2

Capacity building of local stakeholders, Local Government Unit (LGU) members and national citizens

3

Undertake bio-physical surveys to provide spatial recommendations for the establishment of MPAs

Methodology

Methodology

The bio-physical assessment of coral reefs throughout Sogod Bay and Southern Leyte was achieved through the deployment of transect-based protocols. Transects were laid parallel to the shoreline at depths ranging from 6m to 12m by our highly training volunteer-led survey teams. Our deployed methods utilise Reef Check protocols as a base, enabling us to contribute our data to global coral reef assessments. 

In order to capture a holistic spatial overview of the focus area, a number of variables were collected;
Fish
Diversity & Density
Commercially Important
Fish Abundance
Commercially Important
Fish Biomass
Fish
Diversity & Density
Commercially Important
Fish Abundance
Commercially Important
Fish Biomass
Invertebrate
Diversity & Density
Benthic
Impacts
Substrate
Composition
Invertebrate
Diversity & Density
Benthic
Impacts
Substrate
Composition
Fish diversity and abundance data were collected using Underwater Visual Census (UVC) techniques and pre-defined fish families and species were recorded, recognised as being good indicators of fishing pressure, aquarium collection and reef health. The diversity and abundance of selected invertebrate families and species were also recorded along the same belt transect. Recorded species were typically targeted for food, collected as curios or important to the ecological balance of the reef. Two divers each recorded the abundance of target invertebrates 2.5m either side of the transect line while swimming in an S-shaped search pattern.

Within the same area assessed for invertebrates, divers record the observed impacts on the reef. The total percentage of bleached coral cover was estimated together with the percentage of bleaching on each individual bleached coral colony; indicating severity. Coral diseases were identified, where present, and recorded as a percentage of the colony infected. Damage was recorded in three categories: boat/anchor, dynamite and other, on an ordinal scale from 0 to 3 (0=none, 1=low, 2=medium, 3=high). The impact of trash was also recorded on the same scale and separated into general and fishing nets/traps. 

Benthic diversity was measured by recording living and non-living substrate categories along a ‘point-intercept’ transect. Benthic categories included: sand, rock, rubble, silt/mud, nutrient indicator algae, sponge, recently killed coral, soft coral, hard coral and any other sessile organisms. Hard corals were further grouped and analysed for abundance in three conservation classes: disturbance adapted fast growing corals (i.e. Acropora spp.); competitor corals (i.e. foliose and encrusting); and stress tolerant corals (i.e. massive and sub-massive). 
Benthic diversity was measured by recording living and non-living substrate categories along a ‘point-intercept’ transect. Benthic categories included: sand, rock, rubble, silt/mud, nutrient indicator algae, sponge, recently killed coral, soft coral, hard coral and any other sessile organisms. Hard corals were further grouped and analysed for abundance in three conservation classes: disturbance adapted fast growing corals (i.e. Acropora spp.); competitor corals (i.e. foliose and encrusting); and stress tolerant corals (i.e. massive and sub-massive). 

Results

Results

We've included a summary of results here, but these are not all the results. You can download all the publications produced during Phase II below here, which will give you a complete oversight of the methods, results and recommendations, as well as the any outreach efforts undertaken during the phase. You can also use the form here to request any data from our Head of Science to support your work. 

28

independent Barangay coastal waters surveyed

329

100m transects laid and surveyed

21

MPA recommendations submitted to LGUs

11

MPAs declared from CCC's recommendations

26%

mean hard coral cover; the dominant substrate

159,523

invertebrates recorded from all bio-physical surveys

107,527

fishes recorded from all bio-physical surveys
Throughout Phase II of the LRCP, a total of 28 independent Barangay coastal waters were surveyed, resulting in 21 recommendations for various marine spatial management actions being delivered to local governing units, regional government and local stakeholders. Of those 21 recommendations, 52% were acted upon, leading to the generation of 11 protected areas being established within Sogod Bay.  

107,527 individual fishes were recorded between 2013 - 2018, equating to a mean abundance of 81.46 ±2.49 fishes per 500m 3 (one 20m section of a transect) on Southern Leyte's reefs. Of the fishes recorded, Fusiliers, Cardinalfish and Anemonefish were the most abundant. The diversity of surveyed sites ranged throughout Southern Leyte, with a mean diversity index (H') of 1.81 ±0.02, equating to 6.92 common species per 500m 3 . 

Those considered commercially important, Parrotfish, Snapper and Grouper, were recorded in low abundances throughout Phase II. Parrotfish were the most abundant of the three, but were dominated by small individuals (0-10cm & 11-20cm), equating to a mean biomass of 0.48 ±0.03kg per 500m 3 . Grouper and Snapper were also dominated by small individuals and were absent on most surveys. No individuals over 50cm were recorded for all three commercial families. 

Surveyed sites hosted 26% live hard coral cover, however, this varied between sites ranging from 0% to 95%. Of the hard coral colonies recorded, Non-Acropora Branching, Non-Acropora Massive and Submassive lifeforms were the most dominant. Acropora Branching species were also recorded in notable abundances. Less than <1% of all colonies recorded showed signs of bleaching throughout the survey period. 
An example of CCC's Phase II efforts producing tangible results where an MPA, established from CCC's recommendations, was extended to join an existing MPA in Bahay, increasing the area of coastline protected by 42%.
An example of CCC's Phase II efforts producing tangible results where an MPA, established from CCC's recommendations, was extended to join an existing MPA in Bahay, increasing the area of coastline protected by 42%.
Throughout Phase II of the LRCP, a total of 28 independent Barangay coastal waters were surveyed, resulting in 21 recommendations for various marine spatial management actions being delivered to local governing units, regional government and local stakeholders. Of those 21 recommendations, 52% were acted upon, leading to the generation of 11 protected areas being established within Sogod Bay.  

107,527 individual fishes were recorded between 2013 - 2018, equating to a mean abundance of 81.46 ±2.49 fishes per 500m 3 (one 20m section of a transect) on Southern Leyte's reefs. Of the fishes recorded, Fusiliers, Cardinalfish and Anemonefish were the most abundant. The diversity of surveyed sites ranged throughout Southern Leyte, with a mean diversity index (H') of 1.81 ±0.02, equating to 6.92 common species per 500m 3 . 

Those considered commercially important, Parrotfish, Snapper and Grouper, were recorded in low abundances throughout Phase II. Parrotfish were the most abundant of the three, but were dominated by small individuals (0-10cm & 11-20cm), equating to a mean biomass of 0.48 ±0.03kg per 500m 3 . Grouper and Snapper were also dominated by small individuals and were absent on most surveys. No individuals over 50cm were recorded for all three commercial families. 

Surveyed sites hosted 26% live hard coral cover, however, this varied between sites ranging from 0% to 95%. Of the hard coral colonies recorded, Non-Acropora Branching, Non-Acropora Massive and Submassive lifeforms were the most dominant. Acropora Branching species were also recorded in notable abundances. Less than <1% of all colonies recorded showed signs of bleaching throughout the survey period. 
The low abundance of commercially important fishes indicated that there was severe over-fishing of the reef fish populations within Sogod Bay which followed the trend of fish stocks being considered to be both biologically and economically overfished in most areas of the Philippines. However, the dominance of Hard Coral throughout the bay, minimal bleaching, and the presence of rare fauna, alongside the recorded diversity of fish community assemblages, demonstrates that some reefs within Southern Leyte host a good ecological status. 

A total of 5 sharks were observed throughout the 5 years of surveying, with 47 turtles, and 1 manta ray. No Bumphead Parrotfish were recorded however, 33 Humphead Wrasse were noted. Although not included in surveys, the presence of Whale Sharks was recorded. Their respective presence in the bay, alongside other rare fauna, such as turtles and Humphead Wrasse, indicated that there was great potential for coastal or dive related tourism in the area, assuming it is managed in a sustainable manner.

Publications

Please use the link below to request access to our reports and data for this phase.
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