For almost 2 months haven’t
experience diving with the sun brightly shining above but today the visibility underwater is very nice. I was invited by my colleague to be his
buddy in conducting a quick assessment survey on the COT Outbreak in Tangkaan,
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte. The group is composed of representative from GIZ,
Southern Leyte Diver Resort owner Gunther and his young son Adrian.
 |
| SLSU Survey Team |
 |
| the outbreak |
 |
| Dr. Andreas Lange of GIZ and Gunter Mosch owner of Southern Leyte Dive Resort |
 |
| catch of the day |
For the whole 2 days the group
removed and injected (poison) countless number of COT’s. After the 1st
dive the reaction is, we are overwhelmed by huge number of COT’s under the
clear and pristine waters of Tangkaan, Padre Burgos. Total mayhem underwater,
they are on top of each other competing among COT’s for living corals to
devour! Adrian once told me that what we are doing is a bit hopeless effort to
eradicate the COT’s outbreak but they keep on going because their business
depended on it. It’s a bit sad that only Southern Leyte Divers and Sogod Bay
Dive Resort participated on the COT’s clean up. Based on the quick assessment
we did its effect could be very devastating in the future in terms of monetary
value of the marine resources lost due to this outbreak. It seems that the
local government and other concerned agency doesn’t understand how to address
this problem.
 |
| clean up site, appearance is deceiving mayhem underwater |
For us in the academe this is a
bit of both a problem and a challenge. Problem in the sense that we take pride
in giving the community new technology and knowledge in sustainable fishery
throughout Southern Leyte and a challenge to understand the problem based on
scientific methods wherein we can formulate effective control measure to lessen the
impact this COT’s outbreak to the coastal community and the tourism business
sector. In such way to create accurate proactive programs that the province
could rely in the future if this problem occurs again.
For now it is not the question of
who will help? It’s the time we show that we care for our Southern Leyte and
help anything and anyhow we possibly can!
 |
| coffee break after each dive |
