Coastal communities around Sarangani Bay have been working together to collect crown-of-thorn (COT) starfish as an outbreak threatens coral reefs at the protected area.
Protected Area Superintended Joy C. Ologuin said teams composed of residents, local government workers and volunteers have collected over 100,000 of the COT starfish over the last three months.
“This is one of the worst COT breakouts not only in SBPS (Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape) but in the whole country,” Ms. Ologuin said in a statement Tuesday released Monday by the Environment department’s Soccsksargen regional office.
“The 101,323 COT collected do not include those collection efforts from volunteers during weekends.”
She called on other stakeholders, including businesses and civic organizations, to help as continued gathering is needed.
The Protected Area Management Office offers rice-for-work to encourage more community members to participate.
Read more:
https://www.bworldonline.com/sarangani-bay-communities-battle-crown-of-thorns-starfish-outbreak/