ALL COASTAL REGIONS SHOULD HAVE ARTIFICIAL CORAL REEFS

ALL COASTAL REGIONS SHOULD HAVE ARTIFICIAL CORAL REEFS

I know I am not dreaming when I say that it is real: artificial coral reefs are finally being deployed to save our seas. Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in region 11 partnered with the local government of Tagum City to install 100 artificial coral reefs in its coastal waters. The goal? To restore degraded habitats, revive marine biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of fisherfolk.

Now, this is commendable. But here comes my first question: why is this project spearheaded by the DOST, and not by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which is supposed to monitor, protect, and rehabilitate our ecosystems? Should this not have been DENR’s turf all along? And where is the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which oversees our fisheries? Also, should not the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) be in the loop, since LGUs are at the frontline of coastal management? For me, this should be a four-way cooperation between DOST, DENR, BFAR, and DILG.

Would it be correct to assume that the need for artificial reefs comes from the sad fact that natural coral reefs have already been lost? The data is not encouraging. Decades of monitoring show that only about 30% of Philippine reefs still have good live coral cover. Worse, 97% of them are under threat from destructive fishing, pollution, coastal development, and climate change. Should this not have been detected and monitored earlier? If yes, who was responsible? Is DENR fully doing its job?

In the case of Davao Region, was this problem ever taken up in the agenda of the Regional Development Council (RDC)? If not, why not? RDCs are supposed to be the main planning bodies in the regions, yet critical ecological issues like this often get buried under infrastructure projects. I wonder—was the Tagum LGU the one that pushed this forward? Did they fully fund it, or did DOST cover the costs? These are questions that need answers because if the LGU can do it in partnership with one agency, surely other LGUs can replicate it with all the relevant agencies on board.

But is deploying artificial reefs enough? Is this really a solution, or just a band-aid? Artificial reefs can provide breeding grounds and fish shelters, but they do not reverse the deeper causes of reef decay. Coral reefs die because of climate stress, destructive fishing, and unchecked development. Unless those root causes are addressed, artificial reefs will also suffer the same fate.

That is why monitoring is crucial. I ask: is DENR, DOST, or BFAR using modern technology—like drones, satellite imaging, or heat maps—to detect reef decline? Could NAMRIA or even the Coast Guard not play a stronger role in mapping and protecting our marine ecosystems? What is Congress doing about this? Is this ever seriously discussed at the Cabinet level? I know that senators have raised reef destruction in the West Philippine Sea, but how about domestic waters, where millions of Filipinos rely on reefs for food security?

We must also widen the conversation. Coral reefs are not the only marine habitats in crisis. What about seagrasses and seaweeds? These are equally vital for fish nurseries and coastal protection. Are these being studied and protected in region 11 and elsewhere? If not, then we are solving one problem while ignoring others.

At the heart of this issue is governance. We need a national framework that coordinates DOST’s science, DENR’s regulation, BFAR’s fisheries management, and DILG’s local implementation. Without that four-way cooperation, our response will remain fragmented. Artificial reefs in one city will not save the entire country’s marine biodiversity.

Let me close with this reflection: the Philippines sits at the center of the Coral Triangle, home to the richest marine biodiversity on Earth. Yet we are also among the most threatened. Coral loss is not just an environmental problem—it is a food security crisis, an economic crisis, and even a national security concern. If we cannot protect our reefs, we risk losing the very foundation of our fisheries and coastal communities.

So yes, I say all coastal regions should have artificial reefs. But more than that, all government agencies must act together, with urgency and vision. Because artificial reefs alone cannot save us. Only a united effort can.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

12-08-2025 

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