Coral transplantation and reef ball rehabilitation were conducted at the Colorada Marine Protected Area in Aroroy, Masbate to ensure the sustainable management of the province's coastal and marine and resources.
In the activity led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with Masbate Gold Project, divers of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Masbate and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Mobo conducted the removal of barnacle in reef balls and the transplant of coral fragments.
Reef balls are artificial shelters that serve as a breeding ground to the reef fishes thriving inside the locally established marine protected area (MPA).
PENR officer Tito Migo said PENRO Masbate continues to intensify its conservation and management efforts on the MPAs within its jurisdiction in order to comprehensively manage, address, and efficiently decrease the drivers and threats of destruction of the coastal and marine ecosystems.
CENR officer Jean Imperial also said the coral transplantation and rehabilitation of reef balls aim to synchronize with the mandates and programs of DENR to effectively ensure the sustainable management of the country’s coastal and ocean resources.
"The DENR calls for greater commitment in protecting our MPAs, which serve as a critical foundation of biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered species, and contribution to the health of the wider marine ecosystem," she said.
Imperial also said that while it is important to recognize the vital role that MPAs play, "it is essential that we also direct our focus on the many threats they face such as marine ecosystem loss and degradation due to negligent human actions."