Some notes on the Coral damage in the area
85% of the Corals once in the areas on the map below have been destroyed.
The remaining 15% is mostly around the islands seen just outside the strait and known as Biri.
Around the Biri Islands are lots of giant rose Corals plus many other types. However these corals are now being attacked by Cyanide fishermen.
And in a few years time there will be No Corals left in the entire area.
The San Bernadino Strait.
The two islands seen under the words San Isidro (which is on the mainland), are Capul on the left and San Antonio,(Dalupiri) Island on the right.
On the Bright side.
Researchers have found that the big difference in water temperatures between the Pacific Ocean and the warm Visayan Seas, creates a much faster growth rate and in fact reefs can be re-habilitated in less than 18 months!
In fact the Flying Dog resort has regrown several hundred meters of reef using implants from Biri Island as a foundation.
When the reef and coral gardens were in place the fish arrived to set up home, then some bigger fish and then came the Dynamite fishermen!
To be fair to the fishermen, it seems they did ask permission first but were quite dismayed with the answer!
The reef is still safely inplace!
Even Brighter!
Most of the Reef and coral damage was done by inshore dynamite blasts.
This practice has recently stopped with the exception of an area from San Isidro to Viriato on the mainland, where in fact there are no corals.
Coral Spores and Fish Eggs.
The damage to Coral spores, fish eggs and plankton by the use of present dynamite fishing techniques is insignificant.
Arabone Associates: arabone@hotmail.com