September 2013 Wet Season Field Intensive Survey conducted

The CECAM project team has recently concluded its fourth year of wet season field sampling and survey among its study sites jointly collaborated by the scientists and researchers from Japanese and Philippine counterparts. The main goal of the activities conducted was to continue monitoring the key coastal and marine ecosystems in Bolinao reef complex, Guimaras Strait through Banate Bay and Boracay island system; their connectivity from ridge to reef and understand dynamic interactions under seasonal variations.

In Bolinao, the objective of the field survey of the Modeling group was to acquire water sediment characteristic data for model development and get cross-sectional water quality profile data for validating models relating to the aquaculture industry in the area. Consultations among key stakeholders in the local government and aquaculture industry were also gathered to supplement more data needed for further model validation.

In Boracay, the field campaign aimed to determine the dynamics of the beach erosion along its coasts. With the threats of climate change and sea level rise corresponding to the domestic economy’s thriving through tourism, the significance of such information becomes more relevant to implement sound and scientific policies that will greatly benefit the major stakeholders in this tourist haven. Water quality and resisitivity surveys were conducted along the length of the White Beach, a major tourist destination in the island. CCTV cameras were also installed in key stations to monitor the changes of the coasts through seasonal changes. A forum organized by the CECAM key project leaders headed by Professor Kazuo Nadaoka and Dr. Miguel Fortes and major Boracay stakeholders including local government, tourism and resort operators and managers, water utilities company and more actively participated to address the different concerns from their sectors.

In Banate, the main objective of the survey is obtain benthic feature of Banate Bay such as seagrass distribution and bathymetry, investigate influence of fishponds and mangrove forests on the bay water quality including turbidity, nutrients and organic matter, and assess the influence of agricultural practices and terrestrial loads to the Banate bay-watershed systems.

For other inquiries and intent to contribute to the CECAM database, please contact bryanclark07@gmail.com.