Whale Shark Stranding in Maribulan, Alabel, Sarangani Province

A whale shark stranding was reported by the Provincial Governor’s Office in the shores ofSACI Wharf, Maribulan, Alabel, SaranganiProvince last March 5, 2010 at around 2:30 p.m. The staff of the Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC), together with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), went to respond to the stranding and confirm the identity of the organism.

The 4.75-m long, juvenile butanding, as what whale sharks are locally known, was unintentionally caught and dragged ashore in a 300-m net, which was laid perpendicular to the shore at a depth of approximately 6 feet. Close inspection of the animal revealed a number of scratches in some parts of its body, especially on the dorsal portion. It was also noted that there were at least three scars found in dorsal fin and a triangular cut was observed at tip of its tail. Since the butanding was still alive and can function normally, the team decided to tow it (with the help of some locals) to deeper water for release to the open sea. Moreover, it was also noted that there were at least three documented whale shark strandings/sightings in the area within the past four years. Sightings/stranding in the area may have been caused by its feeding behavior – they are often found in areas of where food is abundant. A previous study during a sighting revealed that the water in the area have high plankton content, especially that of krill (a shrimp-like crustacean), which is one of the preferred diet of a butanding. The ECPC team shall schedule yet a monitoring regime in order to pinpoint the main (and other) reasons for the stranding/sighting.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) were among the largest animal in the planet and is considered as the largest fish in the world, growing up to 20 meters and weigh of up to 34, 000 kilograms. They are characterized by a massive and long body, with white or yellow round spots (which are now used for identification and monitoring), and their skin is considered as the thickest among all animals. Although a butanding has a wide and big mouth, it only feeds by filtering planktons through a fine mesh in their gill-rakers. These gentle giants pose no harm to human; however, whale sharks are now threatened and are classified by the World Conservation’s Union (IUCN) as ‘vulnerable to extinction’^[1].

_________________

¹ Tim Winton. ECOCEAN Brochure. www.whaleshark.org

tHe tHiNkiNg uRcHiN suPpoRts Earth Hour 2009

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 in the evening (local time), everyone is encouraged to participate on the first international election between the Earth and global warming, through the Earth Hour.

Let's all grab this opportunity to take part in this international movement and cast our vote for the Earth by switching our lights off for an entire hour (that's only sixty minutes or three thousand six hundred seconds). Leaving your lights on means a vote for global warming. The goal for this year is to gather one (1) billion votes for the Earth, which will be presented to the world leaders in the upcoming Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The official goverment policies to take action agaisnt global warming and the subsequent climate change that will be determined from this meeting will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Earth Hour was initiated last 2007 in Sydney, and was participated by 2.2 million homes and businesses. A year later, in 2008, it had grown up into a global sustainability movement with up to 50 million people switching their lights off.

This year, Earth Hour 2009 is being taken to a new level, where every individuals, encompassing all races, from different countries, are encouraged to VOTE EARTH. Every one is being called up to take a stand and control over the future of our planet.

Let's all vote because every vote counts.

Again, VOTE EARTH by simply switching your lights off for one hour on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM local time, taking part in the global movement -- the Earth Hour.

Make a single flick at that switch, that's just it!

on blogging and environmental advocacy..

so my blog's pretty technical now.. dealing with all the things about my field, on environmental conservation and protection, focusing on the marine environment.

hell, yes, to a tolerable extent (hopefully), it's pretty boring.

i just can't help it. my personal thoughts are more often than not full of anxiety, of problems, of stressors, and of all the craps a self-confessed non-conformist, radical, and rebellious cynic can ever think of. i am helping myself in this aspect though. focusing on happy thoughts, making myself a blessing to every life i have touched, i am, and will be touching.

and so instead of writing about the rather appalling and vexatious thoughts i have, i promised myself to write about what I know about my field of work, and be an advocate of change, of sustainable development, of saving the last frontier -- the ocean.

so i am saying sorry for everyone who might want to learn more about me through my posts -- through what i write. i may fail you in this aspect, but surely, as you read through, you may be able to see glimpses of my true self (identity crisis on the loose? maybe, maybe not). i may be evasive on this part but will promise to write about my thoughts and views on life and living once in a while..

so for now, do bear with me. I'm in the mood of being self-righteous these days. so i might as well write about saving, protecting, and conserving our environment while i still have the fire..

so for every one of you who gets the chance to read (let's play pretend here that you all are hell lot), do pass the learning and wisdom (that, i can't promise i can impart but will really try. will really, really try) forward and let's hold hands, brace ourselves, and be with me as i go along with this advocacy.

Coral Reefs: We need a chance!

Coral reef at Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province.

I really feel sorry for our coral reefs. Like any other coastal ecosystem, they are in the brink of irrepressible and inevitable peril.

A gorgonian.

For years, coral reefs have been providing unequivocal and tangible services towards the environment, and most especially to man (i.e. food security through fisheries production, tourism like diving, coastal defense from storms, reduction of soil erosion)[1].

A couple of fish taking time to be photographed.

However, for the past years, this resource is in foreboding danger, being bombarded with global problems (ocean acidification due to increase in carbon dioxide; coral bleaching and rise in sea-levelas caused by global warming; and low fisheries yield as caused by overfishing) and local threats (crown-of-thorns starfish infestation/outbreaks; algal blooms; increase in number and prevalence of diseases such as white-band disease; cyclone damage, etc.) [1].

Crown-of-thorns starfish (the one with thorny projections found over the coral) devouring a coral (Pectinia sp.?)

Until recently, their significance to man’s lives were overlooked, misled by the notion that its bounty will never be depleted, that this is an infinite resource.

Shampoo sachet in the midst of a foliaceous coral (Echinopora sp.).

Diapers: babies must have been living underwater. Mermaids perhaps?

Bits and pieces of cellophanes all over a sponge.

A coral reef is a finite and fragile resource. Like everything around us, it should be utilized sparingly, with an utmost sense of decency to leave something more from that of those that were left for us by our forefathers; such that the next generation will be able to have a better feel of the services that this ecosystem provides us.. for that, I know they will really appreciate us and perhaps, with a better perspective, they may be able to pass it on to the next generation to the next as our reefs gets better to best. The only thing they ask from us is:

Please, give us a chance.

Literature cited: [1] Mumby, P. J., and R. S. Steneck. 2008. Coral reef management and conservation in light of rapidly evolving ecological paradigms.

Sunfish (Mola mola) stranding at Alabel, Sarangani Province

Last February 6, 2009, the staff of ECPC’s Ecosystem Research Division (from which I am a part of) was prompted to act upon the report of a stranded sunfish, Mola mola (Linnaeus 1758) in the shore of Purok Belong-Belong, Maribulan, Alabel, Sarangani Province. We went as fast as we could, hoping to see the largest bony fish in the world alive. But it was long dead when we arrived.

Stranded sunfish "basking" in the sun.

Coastal residents in the area reported that the huge fish, weighing approximately 250+ kg (it took eight big men to haul it to our vehicle), has been there since around 10:00 p.m. the other night.

Curious children looks over the dead sunfish.

The fish measured 1.97m from the tip of the snout to the tip of the clavus (formed by extensions of the dorsal and anal fin rays), and .95m from the tip of the dorsal fin to the tip of the anal fin. The fish was taken to the center for taxidermy. During taxidermy, a ruptured fist-size cyst was found in the right side of the body of the fish, and a 12-cm remora (a parasitic fish) was also removed along its esophagus (the specimen was also preserved and is on display at the ECPC museum). The entire staff was also amazed after learning that the “bones” of the largest bony fish is cartilaginous, which prompted everyone to conduct further research.

Sunfishes belong to Family Molidae and can be found in temperate waters worldwide. In Sarangani Province, sunfishes were documented to be swimming in and around the Sarangani Bay area. In fact, the center has three (3) preserved specimens of this fish, including the one reported herein. They feed on zooplankton primarily jellyfish, salps, and ctenophores. They are relatively slow swimmers (thus said to be the largest zooplankton) and weighs up to over 900 kg, reaching the height of 11 feet when matured.

Despite their humungous size, sunfishes are gentle and do not pose any threat to human and have a great part in maintaining the balance and diversity in the marine environment.


Source: Australian Museum Fish Site (http://www.austmus.gov.au)
MarineBio (http://marinebio.org/Oceans/StructuresAdaptations.asp)

badly needs help

It is with deep consternation to learn that the earth, ironically, has been housing and nourishing, for hundreds of years, a creature that does more harm than good. It is a creature that threatens not only its own extinction but, worse, the destruction of earth itself. It is even more alarming to learn that it is us.

Man’s activity coupled with his negligence has brought himself (and the earth) into the brink of foreboding and irreversible danger. His selfish deed, especially those that brings comfort to him, overlooks the welfare of other living organisms. Today, it has brought issues that are of global concerns, such as air and water pollution, and even triggering the now apparent climate change, as well as other significant environmental changes. Among these major concerns are the ozone depletion and the supposedly valuable Greenhouse effect.

Those matters were largely an effect of the industrialization of the countries that were equipped for advancement and “development”. However, setting and meeting their goals of “development” have reached the extremes. Man has developed chemicals and compounds that are indeed beneficial to him but brings menace to the environment. He has made the chloro-fluorocarbons (CFCs) where the chlorine (its by-product) attacks and causes the depletion of the ozone (a layer in the atmosphere that reflects harmful ultraviolet light). Consequently, man had also invented vehicles and machines that make use of fuels and other non-renewable energies that emit large amount of gases. These gases “clog” at the atmosphere, escalating the Greenhouse effect or the trapping of absorbed heat from the sun.

Obviously, ozone depletion was one of the adverse consequences of man’s oblivious deeds. With it, he is now held liable of his actions. He is now facing the threats posed by the depleted ozone layer such as the intrusion of harmful ultraviolet light (especially UV-B). As a result, UV light may suppress man’s immune system, increasing his susceptibility to diseases. It may also cause him blindness and make food production suffer.

Moreover, the Greenhouse effect is an issue that should be resolved as well. The Greenhouse effect is a natural process wherein radiant energy enters the earth and the resulting heat is trapped by a layer of gases (termed as Greenhouse gases, which is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, methane, etc.). It is with this trapping mechanism that life was made possible, for without it the earth will be too cold to support life. But as of man’s interference, as a result of air pollution, more carbon dioxides and other greenhouse gases are expended into the atmosphere, trapping more heat. This extra heat causes ocean expansion and the melting of ice in the Polar Regions, resulting to an increase in seawater level; chaos in agriculture and fisheries; and ultimately, the climate change.

These seemingly horrible things could have been avoided had man been careful and sensitive of his actions. It may be a cliché, but, still “prevention is better than cure”. Given the situation, man has nothing to do but exert extra efforts for preventing further destruction and spoilage of our resources. Better yet, he must find ways to actually reverse the result of his actions. Initially, he can start with small things (in any way, great things start with small beginnings). He must promote the use of fuel-efficient vehicles and the use of PUVs instead of private transport; ban the use of CFCs; stop illegal logging and deforestation; use renewable energies; and the conduct of growing of trees activity. Also, he must not debate between saving the environment and progressing towards development. Instead, he must gear towards sustainable development. Further, he must disseminate information regarding the adverse effects and the possible solutions to the problems at hand, penalize some if not all “environment offenders”. And finally, work as well as live in harmony with nature.

Our Life-Blood

The forest is an integral part of the earth’s ecosystem and holds great responsibility in the maintenance of its balance. It has long been a resource that is of great significance to man and his proliferation on earth. The forest has been, and continues to be, one of man’s sources of food – be it plant materials or meat; natural products that may be used as dyes, flavorings, fragrances, stimulants, hallucinogens, insecticides, poisons, and as therapeutic agents; raw material for paper manufacture; and mostly, a source of lumber for his shelter.

Nowadays, with the world and its inhabitants being threatened by climate change, the forest’s (specifically, trees’ and other floras’) ecological role enters. It is a fact that where vegetation is lush, it can convert large amount of carbon dioxide (one of the most prominent of the greenhouse gases) into oxygen, and thus tagged as the “lungs of the earth”. It also houses wide arrays of flora and fauna that are either endemic and/or diverse, which are there for the pleasure and “disposal” of mankind. Also, it is valued for their capacity to regulate water vapor, control drought, erosion, and flooding, and the recycling of nutrients as well.

And yet through all of these blessings bestowed by the forests upon man, he exploits this resource with utmost carelessness and an unbelievable ignorance of what his actions may result to. He dares to cut trees extensively, again for his benefits – to meet the demands for lumber, raw material for paper, and to plant crops that are basal to his diet. With these, man depletes and destroys not only the forests but also leaves its residents bereft of their habitats, displacing them to places that are deficient in food and suitable shelter, and may eventually lead to their death. This distracts the stability and equity of the entire ecosystem, causing imbalance. This imbalance may lead to an undesirable and potentially perilous change – a change that more or less will lead to the annihilation of man and the death of all life forms on the earth.

To facilitate and rescue the rapidly diminishing forest cover, man should conduct activities that will augment the restoration and expansion of the previously cut and lost trees. Man should rather conduct tree growing activities instead of tree planting. He should be able to replace the cut trees with a seedling/sapling (preferably of the same species) right after logging. He must be aware and be able to share this awareness to other people. Lawmakers should pass laws that are more environment-friendly and that are more inclined to the conservation and protection of our environment. To sum it up, he must be sensitive enough of his actions and be held accountable of every problem his actions may and will inflict.

Sadly, though there are measures and advocacies done to conserve and protect our forest, it seems insufficient and inefficient. Perhaps, it is because man’s interests goes in conflict with these measures. The laws are there but either the gravity of the penalties is inconsequential or its implementation is inept.

But even through all of these, I believe that there is still hope for our forest. I am still positive of what man can do, especially when the need arises. I trust that a man makes a difference; in fact, only a man can make a difference! I still believe that he will be able to reverse the adverse effects of his deeds. And that his help, with an alliance to the forests’ capacity to mend itself, together, they will flourish and stand tall.