Monitoring coral restoration in Biri Island
Loreto Vila
Biri Initiative, Spain
: J Mar Biol Oceanogr
Abstract
As of today, large areas of coral reefs have been devastated by illegal fishing methods in the Philippines and immediate action is needed to save the reefs. To address this urgent need Biri initiative is undergoing a massive deployment of innovative artificial reef structures (mini reef buds) within the island’s Marine Protected Areas, MPAs with particular attention to areas of coral reef damaged by dynamite fishing. The artificial reefs are deployed to promote habitat restoration, management and conservation but also for an extensive research study that monitors mini reef buds colonization rate plus MPAs and no take zones effect. Monitoring in the short and long-term is evaluated based on fish abundance, fish sizes, species richness and species spatial distribution. On the other hand, data collection is performed on large and fine-scale. Less-detailed information but over broader scales is obtained through photo/video surveys for management purposes. Fine-scale data for scientific research is collected using Underwater Visual Census (UVC) monitoring techniques along several transects. Preliminary results of this on-going project will be presented.
Biography
E-mail:loretovila@gmail.com
