Gov't deploy monitoring system for coral reef conservation

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government dispatched today a monitoring equipment to evaluate the health and changing status of reefs on three pilot sites, and help improve the protection of all coral reefs.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) Director Theresa Mundita Lim said the agency's scuba divers simultaneously installed the devices on three underwater sites.

The device is mostly made up of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, secured to coral reefs with metal weights that can mimic coral reefs and, over time, attracts or collects small reef animals referred to as cryptic reef biodiversity, said the official.

"A group of ARMS (the device) installed in a specific area could provide a systematic and consistent method of monitoring marine life forms," said Lim.

"They also provide data on how climate change impacts such as ocean warming and acidification affects them, or how marine ecosystems develop and maintain their resilience to these impacts."