CRTR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: SOUTH-EAST ASIA
The Marine Science Institute/Bolinao Marine Laboratory of the University of the Philippines (UPMSI), Philippines
The Bolinao Marine Laboratory (BML) is one of four Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) Program Centers of Excellence throughout the world. Each Center aims to build the necessary scientific information for management and policy so that coral reef ecosystems, under threat from climate change and multiple human stresses, can be sustained for current and future generations. The Centers of Excellence also act as important bases for the CRTR Working Groups.
The Bolinao Marine Laboratory is the focus for coral reef research in South-East Asia. It is situated 275km north-west from Manila at Cape Bolinao, Pangasian Provence, on the Western side of the mouth of the Lingayen Gulf in Luzon Island.
The reefs of the Bolinao are of the fringing type, with slopes dropping to 120m in certain areas. Reef flats are mostly sandy-muddy and covered with seagrasses and seaweeds while some forereefs extend up to several km from the shore, with coral cover in certain places reaching down to about 30m.
Live coral cover averages about 20 percent. There are more than 100 fish species. However, important fish groups and mammals, such as sharks and dolphins that were previously observed along the Bolinao Channel (ca. 1950’s) are no longer common in the area.
Local Research Priorities
The local research priorities identified for phase one include:
- Coral identification and taxonomy
- Coral disease and marine microbiology
- Connectivity and populations of economically important reef species
Reef and Research Information
The CoE directly supports two doctoral students and three masters students plus two doctoral and four masters level students under various CRTR Working Groups.
The CoE's three local projects have progressed as follows:
1. The Coral Taxonomy project has updated, the on-line map library of Philippine corals now including information on coral distribution, species lists, virtual museum, taxonomic guides and featured species. Data from this research will contribute to a field guide to the corals of Bolinao and Western Luzon.
2. A Field Guide to the Bubble Corals of the Philippines has been developed for non-scientist divers who are trained by the project to map the distributions of these corals in the Philippines.
3. The Guide to the Corals of Bolinao and Western Luzon has commenced with field surveys and taxonomic identification of the coral species photographed.
Under the Local Government Initiative the CoE is assisting conservation of coral reef ecosystems by improving governance and management of the coastal zone. Operating procedures on coastal law enforcement have been drafted which will lead to an operational manual on the rules of engagement.