CATCHESDOWN82%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN88%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN74%since1950s

The Big 3 and the 5 marine Key Biodiversity Areas studied by the Darwin Initiative Project 19-020

The Big 3

The Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 combines the knowledge of fishers since the 1950s with underwater surveys conducted in five marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the country. These are priority areas of conservation identified by Conservation International, Haribon Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which indicate that it houses one or more globally threatened species in need of conservation action. Across the five areas, fishers identified about 59 fish that have disappeared from catches since the 1950s. Many of these were not found at all during the extensive underwater surveys conducted by the Darwin Initiative project. Declines in catches of particular vulnerable species were as much as 80%, making it more and more difficult for fishers to make a living.

The most widespread and largest decreases in catch happen to be among some of the largest fishes dependent on coral reefs. They are also some of the longest living fish in coral reefs and all risk local extinctions within the five Darwin Initiative sites.

Taungan or Bumphead Parrotfish(Bolbometopon muricatum)

The weight of taungan caught per day has declined by 88% since the 1950s. This is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red

List Authority. It can grow up to 1.3 meters long and weigh over 50 kilogrammes, making it the largest parrotfish in the world. It used

to be common and swimming in schools in coral reefs, but now rare and found in isolation. It eats and scrapes algae and bacteria, helping to control algal overgrowth and thus allow healthy growth of corals.

Taungan can remove five tonnes of coral rock every year and this washes ashore and becomes the beautiful white sand we enjoy in beaches.

Lapu-Lapu, Kugtong or Giant Grouper(Epinephelus lanceolatus)The weight of kugtong caught per day has fallen by 74% since the 1950s. It is considered a Vulnerable species by IUCN Red List Authority. It is the largest grouper in the world and has disappeared from catches around two small islands in Bohol. As one of the largest coral reef predators, it is considered to help sustain healthy fish and other invertebrate populations by eating sick and/or old individuals. It also ensures a balance among algae eaters or herbivores, carnivores and other functional groups in coral reefs.

Mameng or Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)The number of kilograms of mameng caught per day had gone down by 82% since the 1950s. It is considered an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List Authority. It can live for more than two decades and can change from female to male when it reaches 15 years old. It feeds on and helps to regulate the population size of some of the poisonous animals found on the reef, an important one being the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), which feeds directly on living hard coral. Despite legal protection under national law, the majority of fishers were unaware of any regulations on this species and continue to catch it.

Polillo Islands, Quezon ProvinceFacing the Pacific Ocean, the island group is composed of the municipalities of Burdeos, Polillo,

Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan. The Polillo Islands is the only Key Biodiversity Area where the threatened coral Hydnophora bonsai has been observed. It is also one of the remaining areas where the

dugong (Dugon dugong) and Philipppine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) can be found.

Danajon Bank, BoholDanajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and one of only

three double barrier reefs in Southeast Asia; very few barrier reefs exist side by side in the world like this. It is located off Northern Bohol.

Honda Bay, PalawanJust north of Puerto Princesa City, it is one of the major fishing grounds within the

West Sulu Sea. It is composed of 13 islands that are home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, crucial ecosystems that the Honda Bay fisheries are dependent on.

Verde Island Passage The Passage is a narrow corridor of water connecting Luzon to the Visayan Islands. This area is considered to be the “center of the center” of marine

shorefish biodiversity in the world.

Lanuza Bay, Surigao del SurFacing the Pacific Ocean, Lanuza Bay covers seven

municipalities and has a total of 16 marine protected areas ranging from 19 to 76 hectares around it.

5 marine Key Biodiversity AreasThese marine Key Biodiversity Areas or marine KBAs are rich in marine biodiversity; their protection is critical to

ensure not only food fish supply in the country but also other ecosystem services such as biological control and climate regulation. There are over 1,785 marine protected areas (MPAs), 33 MPAs are protected under the Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (DENR, 2015). The rest are managed by the local government units, community-based organizations and non-government organizations.

REFERENCE: Lavides MN, Molina EVP, de la Rosa GE Jr, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC (2016) Patterns of coral-reef finfish species disappearances inferred from fishers’ knowledge in global epicenter of marine shorefish diversity. PLOS ONE 11(5): e0155752.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155752

CENTERFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY: Coral reef photography by Erina Molina. Humphead Wrasse photo by Patryk Krzyzak via Wikipedia. Bumphead Parrotfish photo by Flickr user Klaus Stiefel / fishesofaustralia.net.au, license CC by Attribution-Non-Commercial. Giant Grouper photo by Flickr user Modernrelics Jessica Paterson. Polillo Group of Islands photo by Jdcgumpal, license CC BY-SA 3.0. Verde Island Passage

photo by Wiki user Magalhães. Danajon Bank photo by NASA. Surigao del Sur photo by Wiki user Surigaotourist, license by CC BY-SA 3.0. Honda Bay, Palawan photo by Lsjtest CC BY-SA 3.0.

CATCHESDOWN82%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN88%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN74%since1950s

The Big 3 and the 5 marine Key Biodiversity Areas studied by the Darwin Initiative Project 19-020

The Big 3

The Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 combines the knowledge of fishers since the 1950s with underwater surveys conducted in five marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the country. These are priority areas of conservation identified by Conservation International, Haribon Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which indicate that it houses one or more globally threatened species in need of conservation action. Across the five areas, fishers identified about 59 fish that have disappeared from catches since the 1950s. Many of these were not found at all during the extensive underwater surveys conducted by the Darwin Initiative project. Declines in catches of particular vulnerable species were as much as 80%, making it more and more difficult for fishers to make a living.

The most widespread and largest decreases in catch happen to be among some of the largest fishes dependent on coral reefs. They are also some of the longest living fish in coral reefs and all risk local extinctions within the five Darwin Initiative sites.

Taungan or Bumphead Parrotfish(Bolbometopon muricatum)

The weight of taungan caught per day has declined by 88% since the 1950s. This is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red

List Authority. It can grow up to 1.3 meters long and weigh over 50 kilogrammes, making it the largest parrotfish in the world. It used

to be common and swimming in schools in coral reefs, but now rare and found in isolation. It eats and scrapes algae and bacteria, helping to control algal overgrowth and thus allow healthy growth of corals.

Taungan can remove five tonnes of coral rock every year and this washes ashore and becomes the beautiful white sand we enjoy in beaches.

Lapu-Lapu, Kugtong or Giant Grouper(Epinephelus lanceolatus)The weight of kugtong caught per day has fallen by 74% since the 1950s. It is considered a Vulnerable species by IUCN Red List Authority. It is the largest grouper in the world and has disappeared from catches around two small islands in Bohol. As one of the largest coral reef predators, it is considered to help sustain healthy fish and other invertebrate populations by eating sick and/or old individuals. It also ensures a balance among algae eaters or herbivores, carnivores and other functional groups in coral reefs.

Mameng or Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)The number of kilograms of mameng caught per day had gone down by 82% since the 1950s. It is considered an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List Authority. It can live for more than two decades and can change from female to male when it reaches 15 years old. It feeds on and helps to regulate the population size of some of the poisonous animals found on the reef, an important one being the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), which feeds directly on living hard coral. Despite legal protection under national law, the majority of fishers were unaware of any regulations on this species and continue to catch it.

Polillo Islands, Quezon ProvinceFacing the Pacific Ocean, the island group is composed of the municipalities of Burdeos, Polillo,

Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan. The Polillo Islands is the only Key Biodiversity Area where the threatened coral Hydnophora bonsai has been observed. It is also one of the remaining areas where the

dugong (Dugon dugong) and Philipppine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) can be found.

Danajon Bank, BoholDanajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and one of only

three double barrier reefs in Southeast Asia; very few barrier reefs exist side by side in the world like this. It is located off Northern Bohol.

Honda Bay, PalawanJust north of Puerto Princesa City, it is one of the major fishing grounds within the

West Sulu Sea. It is composed of 13 islands that are home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, crucial ecosystems that the Honda Bay fisheries are dependent on.

Verde Island Passage The Passage is a narrow corridor of water connecting Luzon to the Visayan Islands. This area is considered to be the “center of the center” of marine

shorefish biodiversity in the world.

Lanuza Bay, Surigao del SurFacing the Pacific Ocean, Lanuza Bay covers seven

municipalities and has a total of 16 marine protected areas ranging from 19 to 76 hectares around it.

5 marine Key Biodiversity AreasThese marine Key Biodiversity Areas or marine KBAs are rich in marine biodiversity; their protection is critical to

ensure not only food fish supply in the country but also other ecosystem services such as biological control and climate regulation. There are over 1,785 marine protected areas (MPAs), 33 MPAs are protected under the Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (DENR, 2015). The rest are managed by the local government units, community-based organizations and non-government organizations.

REFERENCE: Lavides MN, Molina EVP, de la Rosa GE Jr, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC (2016) Patterns of coral-reef finfish species disappearances inferred from fishers’ knowledge in global epicenter of marine shorefish diversity. PLOS ONE 11(5): e0155752.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155752

CENTERFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY: Coral reef photography by Erina Molina. Humphead Wrasse photo by Patryk Krzyzak via Wikipedia. Bumphead Parrotfish photo by Flickr user Klaus Stiefel / fishesofaustralia.net.au, license CC by Attribution-Non-Commercial. Giant Grouper photo by Flickr user Modernrelics Jessica Paterson. Polillo Group of Islands photo by Jdcgumpal, license CC BY-SA 3.0. Verde Island Passage

photo by Wiki user Magalhães. Danajon Bank photo by NASA. Surigao del Sur photo by Wiki user Surigaotourist, license by CC BY-SA 3.0. Honda Bay, Palawan photo by Lsjtest CC BY-SA 3.0.

CATCHESDOWN82%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN88%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN74%since1950s

The Big 3 and the 5 marine Key Biodiversity Areas studied by the Darwin Initiative Project 19-020

The Big 3

The Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 combines the knowledge of fishers since the 1950s with underwater surveys conducted in five marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the country. These are priority areas of conservation identified by Conservation International, Haribon Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which indicate that it houses one or more globally threatened species in need of conservation action. Across the five areas, fishers identified about 59 fish that have disappeared from catches since the 1950s. Many of these were not found at all during the extensive underwater surveys conducted by the Darwin Initiative project. Declines in catches of particular vulnerable species were as much as 80%, making it more and more difficult for fishers to make a living.

The most widespread and largest decreases in catch happen to be among some of the largest fishes dependent on coral reefs. They are also some of the longest living fish in coral reefs and all risk local extinctions within the five Darwin Initiative sites.

Taungan or Bumphead Parrotfish(Bolbometopon muricatum)

The weight of taungan caught per day has declined by 88% since the 1950s. This is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red

List Authority. It can grow up to 1.3 meters long and weigh over 50 kilogrammes, making it the largest parrotfish in the world. It used

to be common and swimming in schools in coral reefs, but now rare and found in isolation. It eats and scrapes algae and bacteria, helping to control algal overgrowth and thus allow healthy growth of corals.

Taungan can remove five tonnes of coral rock every year and this washes ashore and becomes the beautiful white sand we enjoy in beaches.

Lapu-Lapu, Kugtong or Giant Grouper(Epinephelus lanceolatus)The weight of kugtong caught per day has fallen by 74% since the 1950s. It is considered a Vulnerable species by IUCN Red List Authority. It is the largest grouper in the world and has disappeared from catches around two small islands in Bohol. As one of the largest coral reef predators, it is considered to help sustain healthy fish and other invertebrate populations by eating sick and/or old individuals. It also ensures a balance among algae eaters or herbivores, carnivores and other functional groups in coral reefs.

Mameng or Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)The number of kilograms of mameng caught per day had gone down by 82% since the 1950s. It is considered an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List Authority. It can live for more than two decades and can change from female to male when it reaches 15 years old. It feeds on and helps to regulate the population size of some of the poisonous animals found on the reef, an important one being the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), which feeds directly on living hard coral. Despite legal protection under national law, the majority of fishers were unaware of any regulations on this species and continue to catch it.

Polillo Islands, Quezon ProvinceFacing the Pacific Ocean, the island group is composed of the municipalities of Burdeos, Polillo,

Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan. The Polillo Islands is the only Key Biodiversity Area where the threatened coral Hydnophora bonsai has been observed. It is also one of the remaining areas where the

dugong (Dugon dugong) and Philipppine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) can be found.

Danajon Bank, BoholDanajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and one of only

three double barrier reefs in Southeast Asia; very few barrier reefs exist side by side in the world like this. It is located off Northern Bohol.

Honda Bay, PalawanJust north of Puerto Princesa City, it is one of the major fishing grounds within the

West Sulu Sea. It is composed of 13 islands that are home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, crucial ecosystems that the Honda Bay fisheries are dependent on.

Verde Island Passage The Passage is a narrow corridor of water connecting Luzon to the Visayan Islands. This area is considered to be the “center of the center” of marine

shorefish biodiversity in the world.

Lanuza Bay, Surigao del SurFacing the Pacific Ocean, Lanuza Bay covers seven

municipalities and has a total of 16 marine protected areas ranging from 19 to 76 hectares around it.

5 marine Key Biodiversity AreasThese marine Key Biodiversity Areas or marine KBAs are rich in marine biodiversity; their protection is critical to

ensure not only food fish supply in the country but also other ecosystem services such as biological control and climate regulation. There are over 1,785 marine protected areas (MPAs), 33 MPAs are protected under the Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (DENR, 2015). The rest are managed by the local government units, community-based organizations and non-government organizations.

REFERENCE: Lavides MN, Molina EVP, de la Rosa GE Jr, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC (2016) Patterns of coral-reef finfish species disappearances inferred from fishers’ knowledge in global epicenter of marine shorefish diversity. PLOS ONE 11(5): e0155752.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155752

CENTERFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY: Coral reef photography by Erina Molina. Humphead Wrasse photo by Patryk Krzyzak via Wikipedia. Bumphead Parrotfish photo by Flickr user Klaus Stiefel / fishesofaustralia.net.au, license CC by Attribution-Non-Commercial. Giant Grouper photo by Flickr user Modernrelics Jessica Paterson. Polillo Group of Islands photo by Jdcgumpal, license CC BY-SA 3.0. Verde Island Passage

photo by Wiki user Magalhães. Danajon Bank photo by NASA. Surigao del Sur photo by Wiki user Surigaotourist, license by CC BY-SA 3.0. Honda Bay, Palawan photo by Lsjtest CC BY-SA 3.0.

Do we now have fewer fish species in the sea?

Darwin Initiative Project 19-020Humphead Herald

We must work together to promote and practice sustainable fishing. This must be reflected in our laws and habits.

If we do not act now, it will become more difficult to feed our families, tourists will seek snorkeling and diving sites

elsewhere, and the frustration and hardship of fishers will continue to affect our communities.

In terms of fishing methods, the project showed that there is a need to shift the fisheries from high trophic level species

such as the groupers (lapu-lapu) and snappers (maya-maya), which are slow growing and late maturing species and

thus more vulnerable to depletion, to low trophic level species such as the rabbitfish locally known as danggit that are

still abundant and among the most resilient reef fishes in Lanuza Bay.

The Haribon Foundation assisted Kadagatan Ampingan Pagmata Katawhan or Kaampaka to install a social enterprise that focuses on premium

danggit with a conservation-livelihood agreement to reconcile marine conservation, empower its members and provide them with sustainable

livelihood. Haribon launched a fish processing project called Kaampaka Premium Fish Products whereby Haribon provides capacity building

activities such as basic social enterprise operations in marketing, basic accounting, and auditing. This includes leadership training and

empowering the fisher organization by facilitating cross-visits by members among successful similar operations in exchange for them

continuing their voluntary efforts in marine protected area (MPA) management and compliance with fishery management regulations,

especially a fishing ban during the rabbitfish spawning season.

Kaampaka was also granted materials for the construction and repair of fish traps and fish cages by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR)-CARAGA Region. It is now and will be the primary source of raw materials for the dried danggit social enterprise. BFAR was

also tapped to help the members in providing the skills in fish drying while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) trained them in packaging,

labeling and marketing their products. The DTI also helped them ensure product quality and product safety.

Kaampaka has also just been granted by the Foundation for Sustainable Society (FSSI) funding for its dried danggit social enterprise, so

that it can purchase equipment essential for fish drying including initial capital to buy raw materials and initial allowances for Kaampaka

member-staff of the enterprise.

Kaampaka also benefits the women who have long been unrecognized as a significant contributor to productive work in the fishing

industry. They earn a daily income of P250.00 each as members which helps augment family income. It has been fully operational for over

seven (7) months and is gaining profit. In fact, marketing of dried fish products reached Butuan, a nearby municipality, through the help of

the DTI. The target of this project is for the Kaampaka dried danggit products to become Surigao del Sur’s major product for pasalubong or

homecoming gifts for tourists, with the marketing and promotions supported by the provincial and municipal LGUs.

Dr. Nicholas Polunin

(Project Leader)

Dr. Margarita Lavides

(Co-Coordinator)

Mr. Gregorio de la Rosa Jr.

Ms. Erina Pauline Molina

Ms. Amelita Talotalo

Mr. Charly Mejorada

Dr. Aileen Mill

Dr. Selina Stead

Ms. Christina Skinner

Ms. Kaylee Prince

Dr. Steve Rushton

Ms. Angela Petines

Mr. Miguel Panopio

While extinction is a natural process, the current species extinction rate globally is 1,000 times the historical rate indicated by the fossil

record. This species extinction crisis is due to habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and proliferation of invasive

and alien species. The fundamental drivers of species extinction are human overpopulation and overconsumption.

In view of the extreme declines in catch and vulnerability to local extinction of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse and Giant Grouper

across many of fishing grounds in the Philippines, WE APPEAL:

To DENR-BMB and DA-BFAR, to strictly implement Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147) and Aquatic Wildlife Conservation (DA-FAO

233 ), in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Local Government Units, to enact resolutions and ordinances for the protection and conservation of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper

and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Fishers, to seek ways to protect Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country;

To Fish Traders and Consumers, to avoid buying and selling and consuming Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish

species in the country;

To Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to further efforts on research on fish population assessments and advocacy on protection and conservation of Bumphead

Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other near extirpated and threatened fish species in the country; and

To Donor Community and Private Sector, to partner and support governments, CSOs and fishing communities in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish,

Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Nick Polunin at nick.polunin@ncl.ac.uk OR Dr. Marge Lavides at marine@haribon.org.ph/lavides@yahoo.com OR call The Haribon Foundation at +632-911-6088

Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 Team

This is a question that the Darwin Initiative Project

19-020 “Responding to Fish Extirpations in the Global

Marine Biodiversity Epicenter” has addressed in the

Philippines.

Between 2012 and 2014, the Haribon Foundation and

Newcastle University (United Kingdom) in face-to-face

interviews asked Filipino fishers about their fishing

practices and which fish species they

no longer catch today, but were

abundant in past decades.

Underwater surveys were

also conducted and data

obtained from both surveys

are being used with the

end in view to strengthen

conservation efforts in five

(5) marine Key Biodiversity Areas

(KBAs) in the Philippines: Lanuza Bay in Surigao del

Sur; Verde Island Passage; Danajon Bank in Northern

Bohol; Honda Bay in Palawan, and the Polillo Islands

in Quezon.

Alarmingly, a number of fish species are now included

in a list of disappearing fish. Three of them listed here

are not only some of the largest fish on coral reefs,

but are also among the most globally threatened with

extinction.

The study’s findings indicate that many reef fish

populations in the country have substantially declined,

and may have already had ecological impacts on the

overall health of the coral reef ecosystem. For example,

parrotfishes are known to be algal and bacterial

grazers, and so their decline is expected to result in

algal overgrowth, coral cover decline, and reduced reef

habitat quality for a lot of marine organisms.

Conservation efforts inspired by this study could

not only help the livelihood of thousands of fishing

communities, but potentially increase tourism income

dependent on our unique and beautiful coral reefs of

which many of these fish are an important part.

We hope with this newsletter, more and more Filipinos

will not only learn how drastic fish declines are in the

country, but that there are solutions that can help

ensure we have enough food to eat, and that more and

more people can enjoy both the fish and coral reefs for

years to come.

The Best Solutions

CALL TO ACTION: What you must do now.

Special Edition / June 2016

“Ang jackpot

ngayon na huli ay malas

na sa amin noon. Marami

narin nawawalang isda.”

The jackpot catch nowadays is just poor

catch for us before. Also, many kinds of fish

have been disappearing from catch.

83 year old fisher, Brgy. Catmon,

San Juan, Batangas

An Example: The KAAMPAKA Experience.

Phot

o by

Gre

go

rio

“D

itto

” de

la R

osa

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa

Ph

oto

by E

rin

a M

olin

a

Phot

o by

Ch

arly

Mej

orad

a

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa

Danggit by Flickr user Andrew

Ab

og

ado, license CC BY 2.0

Photo b

y Eri

na M

olin

a &

Gre

gor

io “

D

itto” d

e la Rosa

Do we now have fewer fish species in the sea?

Darwin Initiative Project 19-020

Humphead Herald

We must work together to promote and practice sustainable fishing. This must be reflected in our laws and habits.

If we do not act now, it will become more difficult to feed our families, tourists will seek snorkeling and diving sites

elsewhere, and the frustration and hardship of fishers will continue to affect our communities.

In terms of fishing methods, the project showed that there is a need to shift the fisheries from high trophic level species

such as the groupers (lapu-lapu) and snappers (maya-maya), which are slow growing and late maturing species and

thus more vulnerable to depletion, to low trophic level species such as the rabbitfish locally known as danggit that are

still abundant and among the most resilient reef fishes in Lanuza Bay.

The Haribon Foundation assisted Kadagatan Ampingan Pagmata Katawhan or Kaampaka to install a social enterprise that focuses on premium

danggit with a conservation-livelihood agreement to reconcile marine conservation, empower its members and provide them with sustainable

livelihood. Haribon launched a fish processing project called Kaampaka Premium Fish Products whereby Haribon provides capacity building

activities such as basic social enterprise operations in marketing, basic accounting, and auditing. This includes leadership training and

empowering the fisher organization by facilitating cross-visits by members among successful similar operations in exchange for them

continuing their voluntary efforts in marine protected area (MPA) management and compliance with fishery management regulations,

especially a fishing ban during the rabbitfish spawning season.

Kaampaka was also granted materials for the construction and repair of fish traps and fish cages by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR)-CARAGA Region. It is now and will be the primary source of raw materials for the dried danggit social enterprise. BFAR was

also tapped to help the members in providing the skills in fish drying while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) trained them in packaging,

labeling and marketing their products. The DTI also helped them ensure product quality and product safety.

Kaampaka has also just been granted by the Foundation for Sustainable Society (FSSI) funding for its dried danggit social enterprise, so

that it can purchase equipment essential for fish drying including initial capital to buy raw materials and initial allowances for Kaampaka

member-staff of the enterprise.Kaampaka also benefits the women who have long been unrecognized as a significant contributor to productive work in the fishing

industry. They earn a daily income of P250.00 each as members which helps augment family income. It has been fully operational for over

seven (7) months and is gaining profit. In fact, marketing of dried fish products reached Butuan, a nearby municipality, through the help of

the DTI. The target of this project is for the Kaampaka dried danggit products to become Surigao del Sur’s major product for pasalubong or

homecoming gifts for tourists, with the marketing and promotions supported by the provincial and municipal LGUs.

Dr. Nicholas Polunin (Project Leader)Dr. Margarita Lavides (Co-Coordinator)Mr. Gregorio de la Rosa Jr.

Ms. Erina Pauline MolinaMs. Amelita TalotaloMr. Charly MejoradaDr. Aileen MillDr. Selina Stead

Ms. Christina SkinnerMs. Kaylee PrinceDr. Steve Rushton Ms. Angela PetinesMr. Miguel Panopio

While extinction is a natural process, the current species extinction rate globally is 1,000 times the historical rate indicated by the fossil

record. This species extinction crisis is due to habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and proliferation of invasive

and alien species. The fundamental drivers of species extinction are human overpopulation and overconsumption.

In view of the extreme declines in catch and vulnerability to local extinction of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse and Giant Grouper

across many of fishing grounds in the Philippines, WE APPEAL:

To DENR-BMB and DA-BFAR, to strictly implement Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147) and Aquatic Wildlife Conservation (DA-FAO

233 ), in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Local Government Units, to enact resolutions and ordinances for the protection and conservation of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper

and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Fishers, to seek ways to protect Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country;

To Fish Traders and Consumers, to avoid buying and selling and consuming Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish

species in the country; To Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to further efforts on research on fish population assessments and advocacy on protection and conservation of Bumphead

Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other near extirpated and threatened fish species in the country; and

To Donor Community and Private Sector, to partner and support governments, CSOs and fishing communities in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish,

Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Nick Polunin at nick.polunin@ncl.ac.uk OR Dr. Marge Lavides at marine@haribon.org.ph/lavides@yahoo.com OR call The Haribon Foundation at +632-911-6088Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 Team

This is a question that the Darwin Initiative Project

19-020 “Responding to Fish Extirpations in the Global

Marine Biodiversity Epicenter” has addressed in the

Philippines.

Between 2012 and 2014, the Haribon Foundation and

Newcastle University (United Kingdom) in face-to-face

interviews asked Filipino fishers about their fishing practices and which fish species they

no longer catch today, but were abundant in past decades.

Underwater surveys were also conducted and data obtained from both surveys are being used with the end in view to strengthen

conservation efforts in five (5) marine Key Biodiversity Areas

(KBAs) in the Philippines: Lanuza Bay in Surigao del

Sur; Verde Island Passage; Danajon Bank in Northern

Bohol; Honda Bay in Palawan, and the Polillo Islands

in Quezon.

Alarmingly, a number of fish species are now included

in a list of disappearing fish. Three of them listed here

are not only some of the largest fish on coral reefs,

but are also among the most globally threatened with

extinction.

The study’s findings indicate that many reef fish

populations in the country have substantially declined,

and may have already had ecological impacts on the

overall health of the coral reef ecosystem. For example,

parrotfishes are known to be algal and bacterial

grazers, and so their decline is expected to result in

algal overgrowth, coral cover decline, and reduced reef

habitat quality for a lot of marine organisms.Conservation efforts inspired by this study could

not only help the livelihood of thousands of fishing

communities, but potentially increase tourism income

dependent on our unique and beautiful coral reefs of

which many of these fish are an important part.We hope with this newsletter, more and more Filipinos

will not only learn how drastic fish declines are in the

country, but that there are solutions that can help

ensure we have enough food to eat, and that more and

more people can enjoy both the fish and coral reefs for

years to come.

The Best Solutions

CALL TO ACTION: What you must do now.

Special Edition / June 2016

“Ang jackpot ngayon na huli ay malas na sa amin noon. Marami narin nawawalang isda.”The jackpot catch nowadays is just poor catch for us before. Also, many kinds of fish

have been disappearing from catch.83 year old fisher, Brgy. Catmon,San Juan, Batangas

An Example: The KAAMPAKA Experience.

Ph

oto

by

Gre

gori

o “D

itto”

de

la Rosa

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa

Pho

to b

y E

rin

a M

olin

a

Ph

oto

by C

harl

y M

ejor

ada

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa

Danggit by Flickr user A

ndrew

Abogado, license CC BY 2.0

Photo

by

Eri

na

Mol

ina

& G

rego

rio

“Ditto

” de la Rosa

14” inches

7” inches

9.5”inches

Do we now have fewer fish species in the sea?

Darwin Initiative Project 19-020Humphead HeraldWe must work together to promote and practice sustainable fishing. This must be reflected in our laws and habits.

If we do not act now, it will become more difficult to feed our families, tourists will seek snorkeling and diving sites elsewhere, and the frustration and hardship of fishers will continue to affect our communities.

In terms of fishing methods, the project showed that there is a need to shift the fisheries from high trophic level species such as the groupers (lapu-lapu) and snappers (maya-maya), which are slow growing and late maturing species and thus more vulnerable to depletion, to low trophic level species such as the rabbitfish locally known as danggit that are still abundant and among the most resilient reef fishes in Lanuza Bay.

The Haribon Foundation assisted Kadagatan Ampingan Pagmata Katawhan or Kaampaka to install a social enterprise that focuses on premium danggit with a conservation-livelihood agreement to reconcile marine conservation, empower its members and provide them with sustainable

livelihood. Haribon launched a fish processing project called Kaampaka Premium Fish Products whereby Haribon provides capacity building activities such as basic social enterprise operations in marketing, basic accounting, and auditing. This includes leadership training and empowering the fisher organization by facilitating cross-visits by members among successful similar operations in exchange for them continuing their voluntary efforts in marine protected area (MPA) management and compliance with fishery management regulations, especially a fishing ban during the rabbitfish spawning season.

Kaampaka was also granted materials for the construction and repair of fish traps and fish cages by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-CARAGA Region. It is now and will be the primary source of raw materials for the dried danggit social enterprise. BFAR was

also tapped to help the members in providing the skills in fish drying while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) trained them in packaging, labeling and marketing their products. The DTI also helped them ensure product quality and product safety.

Kaampaka has also just been granted by the Foundation for Sustainable Society (FSSI) funding for its dried danggit social enterprise, so that it can purchase equipment essential for fish drying including initial capital to buy raw materials and initial allowances for Kaampaka member-staff of the enterprise.

Kaampaka also benefits the women who have long been unrecognized as a significant contributor to productive work in the fishing industry. They earn a daily income of P250.00 each as members which helps augment family income. It has been fully operational for over seven (7) months and is gaining profit. In fact, marketing of dried fish products reached Butuan, a nearby municipality, through the help of the DTI. The target of this project is for the Kaampaka dried danggit products to become Surigao del Sur’s major product for pasalubong or homecoming gifts for tourists, with the marketing and promotions supported by the provincial and municipal LGUs.

Dr. Nicholas Polunin (Project Leader)

Dr. Margarita Lavides (Co-Coordinator)

Mr. Gregorio de la Rosa Jr.

Ms. Erina Pauline MolinaMs. Amelita TalotaloMr. Charly Mejorada

Dr. Aileen MillDr. Selina Stead

Ms. Christina SkinnerMs. Kaylee PrinceDr. Steve Rushton

Ms. Angela PetinesMr. Miguel Panopio

While extinction is a natural process, the current species extinction rate globally is 1,000 times the historical rate indicated by the fossil record. This species extinction crisis is due to habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and proliferation of invasive and alien species. The fundamental drivers of species extinction are human overpopulation and overconsumption.

In view of the extreme declines in catch and vulnerability to local extinction of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse and Giant Grouper across many of fishing grounds in the Philippines, WE APPEAL:

To DENR-BMB and DA-BFAR, to strictly implement Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147) and Aquatic Wildlife Conservation (DA-FAO 233 ), in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Local Government Units, to enact resolutions and ordinances for the protection and conservation of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other vulnerable and threatened fish species in the country;

To Fishers, to seek ways to protect Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country;

To Fish Traders and Consumers, to avoid buying and selling and consuming Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country;

To Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to further efforts on research on fish population assessments and advocacy on protection and conservation of Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other near extirpated and threatened fish species in the country; and

To Donor Community and Private Sector, to partner and support governments, CSOs and fishing communities in protecting and conserving Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse, Giant Grouper and other threatened fish species in the country.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Nick Polunin at nick.polunin@ncl.ac.uk OR Dr. Marge Lavides at marine@haribon.org.ph/lavides@yahoo.com OR call The Haribon Foundation at +632-911-6088

Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 Team

This is a question that the Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 “Responding to Fish Extirpations in the Global Marine Biodiversity Epicenter” has addressed in the Philippines.

Between 2012 and 2014, the Haribon Foundation and Newcastle University (United Kingdom) in face-to-face interviews asked Filipino fishers about their fishing

practices and which fish species they no longer catch today, but were

abundant in past decades.

Underwater surveys were also conducted and data obtained from both surveys are being used with the

end in view to strengthen conservation efforts in five

(5) marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines: Lanuza Bay in Surigao del Sur; Verde Island Passage; Danajon Bank in Northern Bohol; Honda Bay in Palawan, and the Polillo Islands in Quezon.

Alarmingly, a number of fish species are now included in a list of disappearing fish. Three of them listed here are not only some of the largest fish on coral reefs,

but are also among the most globally threatened with extinction.

The study’s findings indicate that many reef fish populations in the country have substantially declined, and may have already had ecological impacts on the overall health of the coral reef ecosystem. For example, parrotfishes are known to be algal and bacterial grazers, and so their decline is expected to result in algal overgrowth, coral cover decline, and reduced reef habitat quality for a lot of marine organisms.

Conservation efforts inspired by this study could not only help the livelihood of thousands of fishing communities, but potentially increase tourism income dependent on our unique and beautiful coral reefs of which many of these fish are an important part.

We hope with this newsletter, more and more Filipinos will not only learn how drastic fish declines are in the country, but that there are solutions that can help ensure we have enough food to eat, and that more and more people can enjoy both the fish and coral reefs for years to come.

The Best Solutions

CALL TO ACTION: What you must do now.

Special Edition / June 2016

“Ang jackpot ngayon na huli ay malas na sa amin noon. Marami narin nawawalang isda.”The jackpot catch nowadays is just poor

catch for us before. Also, many kinds of fish have been disappearing from catch.

83 year old fisher, Brgy. Catmon,San Juan, Batangas

An Example: The KAAMPAKA Experience.

Phot

o by

Gre

gori

o “D

itto”

de

la R

osa Jr.

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa Jr.

Phot

o by

Eri

na M

olin

a

Phot

o by

Cha

rly

Mej

orad

a

Photo by Erina Molina and Gregorio “Ditto” de la Rosa

Danggit by Flickr user Andrew

Abogado, license CC BY 2.0

Photo

by E

rina

Mol

ina

& G

rego

rio “D

itto” de la Rosa

CATCHESDOWN82%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN88%since1950s

CATCHESDOWN74%since1950s

The Big 3 and the 5 marine Key Biodiversity Areas studied by the Darwin Initiative Project 19-020

The Big 3

The Darwin Initiative Project 19-020 combines the knowledge of fishers since the 1950s with underwater surveys conducted in five marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the country. These are priority areas of conservation identified by Conservation International, Haribon Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which indicate that it houses one or more globally threatened species in need of conservation action. Across the five areas, fishers identified about 59 fish that have disappeared from catches since the 1950s. Many of these were not found at all during the extensive underwater surveys conducted by the Darwin Initiative project. Declines in catches of particular vulnerable species were as much as 80%, making it more and more difficult for fishers to make a living.

The most widespread and largest decreases in catch happen to be among some of the largest fishes dependent on coral reefs. They are also some of the longest living fish in coral reefs and all risk local extinctions within the five Darwin Initiative sites.

Taungan or Bumphead Parrotfish(Bolbometopon muricatum)

The weight of taungan caught per day has declined by 88% since the 1950s. This is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red

List Authority. It can grow up to 1.3 meters long and weigh over 50 kilogrammes, making it the largest parrotfish in the world. It used

to be common and swimming in schools in coral reefs, but now rare and found in isolation. It eats and scrapes algae and bacteria, helping to control algal overgrowth and thus allow healthy growth of corals.

Taungan can remove five tonnes of coral rock every year and this washes ashore and becomes the beautiful white sand we enjoy in beaches.

Lapu-Lapu, Kugtong or Giant Grouper(Epinephelus lanceolatus)The weight of kugtong caught per day has fallen by 74% since the 1950s. It is considered a Vulnerable species by IUCN Red List Authority. It is the largest grouper in the world and has disappeared from catches around two small islands in Bohol. As one of the largest coral reef predators, it is considered to help sustain healthy fish and other invertebrate populations by eating sick and/or old individuals. It also ensures a balance among algae eaters or herbivores, carnivores and other functional groups in coral reefs.

Mameng or Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)The number of kilograms of mameng caught per day had gone down by 82% since the 1950s. It is considered an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List Authority. It can live for more than two decades and can change from female to male when it reaches 15 years old. It feeds on and helps to regulate the population size of some of the poisonous animals found on the reef, an important one being the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), which feeds directly on living hard coral. Despite legal protection under national law, the majority of fishers were unaware of any regulations on this species and continue to catch it.

Polillo Islands, Quezon ProvinceFacing the Pacific Ocean, the island group is composed of the municipalities of Burdeos, Polillo,

Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan. The Polillo Islands is the only Key Biodiversity Area where the threatened coral Hydnophora bonsai has been observed. It is also one of the remaining areas where the

dugong (Dugon dugong) and Philipppine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) can be found.

Danajon Bank, BoholDanajon Bank is the only double barrier reef in the Philippines and one of only

three double barrier reefs in Southeast Asia; very few barrier reefs exist side by side in the world like this. It is located off Northern Bohol.

Honda Bay, PalawanJust north of Puerto Princesa City, it is one of the major fishing grounds within the

West Sulu Sea. It is composed of 13 islands that are home to coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, crucial ecosystems that the Honda Bay fisheries are dependent on.

Verde Island Passage The Passage is a narrow corridor of water connecting Luzon to the Visayan Islands. This area is considered to be the “center of the center” of marine

shorefish biodiversity in the world.

Lanuza Bay, Surigao del SurFacing the Pacific Ocean, Lanuza Bay covers seven

municipalities and has a total of 16 marine protected areas ranging from 19 to 76 hectares around it.

5 marine Key Biodiversity AreasThese marine Key Biodiversity Areas or marine KBAs are rich in marine biodiversity; their protection is critical to

ensure not only food fish supply in the country but also other ecosystem services such as biological control and climate regulation. There are over 1,785 marine protected areas (MPAs), 33 MPAs are protected under the Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (DENR, 2015). The rest are managed by the local government units, community-based organizations and non-government organizations.

REFERENCE: Lavides MN, Molina EVP, de la Rosa GE Jr, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC (2016) Patterns of coral-reef finfish species disappearances inferred from fishers’ knowledge in global epicenter of marine shorefish diversity. PLOS ONE 11(5): e0155752.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155752

CENTERFOLD PHOTOGRAPHY: Coral reef photography by Erina Molina. Humphead Wrasse photo by Patryk Krzyzak via Wikipedia. Bumphead Parrotfish photo by Flickr user Klaus Stiefel / fishesofaustralia.net.au, license CC by Attribution-Non-Commercial. Giant Grouper photo by Flickr user Modernrelics Jessica Paterson. Polillo Group of Islands photo by Jdcgumpal, license CC BY-SA 3.0. Verde Island Passage

photo by Wiki user Magalhães. Danajon Bank photo by NASA. Surigao del Sur photo by Wiki user Surigaotourist, license by CC BY-SA 3.0. Honda Bay, Palawan photo by Lsjtest CC BY-SA 3.0.