nature.culture.adventure
They chase boobies and rob them of their catch. Using their speed and maneuverability, the frigatebirds harass their victims until they regurgitate their stomach contents. Though they do not swim and cannot walk well, they can stay in flight for days landing only to roost or breed.
Unlike curious boobies, frigatebirds are shy and hard to photograph.
photo by Sylvia Ramos, from http://www.tonjiandsylviasbirdlist.com/Birds-of-the-Philippines/Frigatebirds/
The water was a gradient of azure to jade as we approached the island. The weather was perfect: sunny, blue skies speckled with clouds & a light breeze. At the back of rocky Gaspar Island were pocket beaches, a perfect private camp for a Survivor castaway.
Approaching Gaspar Island.
Ala “Survivor” beach of Gaspar Island.
We went here for marine invertebrates specimen collection. You can also snorkel in the reef area.
Gaspar Island together with Melchor & Balthazar consist the Tres Reyes Islands off the coast of Gasan, Marinduque.(Yes, they were named after the three kings of the Nativity). The town of Gasan was named after gasang or gasang-gasang, meaning coral which were said to be abundant before. I have only seen the underwater of Gaspar Island, but hopefully coral cover is still high in other sites. Marinduque, an island province and the fifth smallest in the Philippines, is shaped like a heart and is in the heart of the country. It must be the tragic love affair of Mariin and Gatduke, who drowned themselves because of forbidden love, that formed this heart-shaped island.
Children at the jump-off beach in Gasan. Students in Gaspar Island cross the sea by boat everyday to attend school in the mainland. We donated pencils and other school supplies to them.
A fisherman fixes his net in Barangay Pingan, the jump-off beach to Tres Reyes Islands.
See what’s underwater:
Continue reading “Gaspar Island, Marinduque”
I was snorkeling, looking for specimens for our museum’s collection, in the reef of Gaspar Island, Marinduque, when I heard metals banging underwater. Two boats of fishermen were busy in the reef crest in the horizon. I swam towards them to witness their spectacular teamwork to capture fish. It was suspended from a rope using rocks as weights in the water while skindiving fishermen were moving them up and down, pounding the substrate.Others were guiding a net underwater, positioning it on the reef. Later, a school of scads were caught in the net. While some free dive to guide the net underwater, others in the boat pulled it up, untangling their catch. Then they moved to the other side of reef to catch more.
Fishermen in the surface suspend the rock and metal propeller pounding the substrate.
Others dive down to position the net in the reef.
Fisherman surfaces for air.
Untangling their catch.
I wasn’t sure at first, but my colleagues confirmed that the method was indeed “muro-ami” . This reef fishing technique which means “reef hunting” came from the Japanese. Just like in the movie with the same name, a cordon of fishermen (minors in the movie) drive the fish towards a net while others pound the coral by means of heavy weight like metal or rocks. This is destructive to the corals. Less rugosity (measure of a coral reef’s complexity), high algal cover (algae growth over the corals) , abundance of sea urchins (indicator of high nutrients), and presence of crown-of-thorns (starfish that feeds on corals) are indications that the reef in that area is degraded. The use of muro-ami is illegal according to the Fisheries Code (RA 8550) & Fisheries Administrative Order 203.
clip from movie “Muro Ami”
However our country’s fishermen are among the poorest of the poor and that fishing maybe their only source of living. I have little knowledge of Marinduque’s coastal resources management practices nor the conditions in other coastal sites. But I hope that something is being done in Marinduque to help these lowly fishermen while still protecting our seas. The clear waters and secluded white pocket beaches may be interesting and inviting (see my next post), but what’s happening underwater is a different story.
Yes, they’re called boobies. They’re birds and are usually out flying in the sea. The booby got its name from the Spanish term “bobo” meaning stupid, as they had a habit of landing on ships and were easily captured and eaten. In my trips around Sulu Sea (Tubbataha & San Miguel Islands), they usually hover curiously above our boats/ship. You can even approach them closely for their photo ops.
Red-footed boobies breeds on small islands. Their nest is usually in a tree or bush, rarely on the ground.
They feed on small fish or squid as seen littered on the ground below their nests (Yup, the island stinks of poop & rotting fish & squid).
Some unfortunate chicks may fall to the ground and die ;-(
(above photo by Genesis Santiago)
Rise and shine! Witness the rising sun as you head into the tranquil waters surrounding the islands of Panglao, Pamilacan and Balicasag in Bohol, Philippines. Dolphins don’t usually come out when the sun’s high up and it’s too hot.
But when they do, get ready to be thrilled as the pods pop from below and swim with the boats. Their high spirited antics as they leap out of the water reminds me of their true joy and freedom, out in the sea, away from the tiles of swimming pools. This is true dolphin watching, not in enclosed dolphin shows.
Spinner dolphins (Stenella longilostris) are common in these waters. The most social of all dolphins, they are spectacular to watch due to their acrobatics and spins above water. They can be found in a pod of 100 to more than 1000 individuals. It is common to see them returning to the same location day after day. They usually feed on squid, shrimp and fish.
Fishermen of Bohol used to hunt these dolphins and whales for a living. Now, tourism has converted them and provided an alternative source of income. Aside from other notorious threats to marine life like pollution, I believed that the tour and boat operators should be cautious of the number of boats and time spent watching or “chasing” these creatures, so as not to negatively impact them.
Of the 28 species of dolphins and whales seen in Philippine waters, scientists have seen 18 of these species in Bohol waters…
Continue reading “Free in the sea! Dolphin watching in Bohol, Philippines”
In an island paradise in the middle of the Sulu Sea, a hermit crab found a plastic bottle to be its new home…
Imagine encountering sea turtle mommies laying eggs or excited turtle babies making their way into the sea while strolling on the white beach of Baguan, Turtle Islands. Wake up to the noisy calls and fishy smell of curious boobies and chasing frigate birds at San Miguel Islands. Dive in the strong currents and explore the colorful world underwater. Climb up Bud Bongao with monkeys. Ride the colorful boats of the Jama Mapuns or be fascinated with free diving Badjaos. Cross seagrass and seaweed beds in Sitankai, the Venice of the South. Experience nature, culture and adventure! Explore the islands of Tawi-Tawi!
adventures ni kulot