Coral Reef Assessment of the Submarine Garden in Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas (2008)

Abstract

The Submarine Garden is a marine protected area in San Juan, Batangas. The Hayuma Foundation Inc. conducted the first study in 2006 and it served as the baseline information of this coral reef. A follow up assessment by Salonga in 2007 showed an increase in silt composition and decrease in both hard coral cover and development index. This study conducted a third follow-up assessment of the status of the corals in the Submarine Garden. A modified Line Intercept Transect (LIT) technique involving two 50-meter transect lines was used to determine the substrate composition of the coral reef along the 25 feet depth contour. Results indicate an increase in silt composition from 0% in 2006 to 15.3% in 2007 to 29.5% in 2008. A decrease in hard coral cover percentage from 50.31% in 2006 to 42.71% in 2007 to 42.02% in 2008 was also observed. The coral reef condition remained good, but the development index declined from 1.01 (very good) in 2006 to 0.37 (fair) in 2007 to -0.58 (poor) in 2008, indicating an overall decrease in the status of the marine protected area. The poor status of the development index is indicative of the critical condition of the Submarine Garden.