BACOLOD City – More or less 400 coral-destructive crown-of-thorns (COTs) were removed from the Malabagon Reef in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
COTS is a large starfish with spines that cover its body and arms. It could permanently damage coral reefs, and scientists consider it a species of concern because locally high numbers can threaten other species.
These coral predators occur naturally on the reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region and are also visible in the waters of Aklan and Antique provinces.
The City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO)-Cadiz personnel, along with the local government unit (LGU) of Escalante City, initially collected approximately 300 COTs.
During a simultaneous coastal clean-up along the seawall of Barangay Old Poblacion and COTs removal at the Malabagon Reef, a total of 98 COTs were removed and 1,763 non-biodegradable wastes were collected.
The COTs collected were buried.
These activities were conducted by CENRO-Cadiz, composed of TSPS personnel, the Office of the CENR Officer, and the Sagay Marine Reserve, and assisted by students from the Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology–Bachelors of Science in Fisheries and in Biology, with the collaboration of LGU Escalante City and the Philippine Coast Guard. (With a report from DENR 6)/PN
