SPR Divemaster and former Peace Corps volunteer Ethan Lucas writes about CCEF’s oldest recurring activity which is Saving Philippine Reefs. SPR has been a source of reliable data for coral reef and reef fish status in the Philippines since the 1980s. The data collected serves as valuable inputs to the creation and management of marine protected areas, notable among them are the ones found in world-renowned Apo Island and Tubbataha Reefs. These MPAs have been the site of several SPR expeditions and by using the same survey methods, valuable time series data are generated that is of considerable scientific value both for management and research purposes.
The next SPR will occur somewhere March to April, 2014 and CCEF is looking for scuba diving enthusiasts willing to participate in a week of scientific and fun dives. If you are interested, just read Ethan’s excellent article or contact CCEF.
Raffy Martinez