RP-French expedition yields rare fauna from Bohol Sea

A deep underwater expedition in central Philippines has yielded rare fauna of great scientific significance.

This so-called "Panglao 2005" deep-sea cruise in Bohol Sea was led by French and Filipino scientists and crew who obtained a saw-tooth shark, bivalve Archarax, large polychaete worm Aphrodite, and a good number of specimens from two relatively rare crab families. Retropmidae and Tymolidae including spider crabs, among many others.

The detailed result and significance of such discoveries will be revealed by Philippe Bouchet of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) of Paris, France during a formal presentation slated at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in Quezon City at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 28.

With Bouchet as co-principal investigator is Ludovina labe of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (BFAR-NFRDI).

The deep-water survey was a cooperative research undertaken by the NMNH and the BFAR-NFRDI to take inventory of the deep-water benthic fauna in Bohol Sea, acquire scientific and technical know-how for deep sea exploration, evaluate the relevance of administrative limits of municipal waters, understand the ecological, scientific, utilitarian/economic and cultural values of such organisms, and provide the framework for their conservation and management.

Titled "Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project Phase 3: Survey of the Deep-Water Benthic Fauna of Bohol Sea and Adjacent Waters", the study is a continuation of the long-term MUSORSTOM program that began in 1976 and continued in 1980 and 1985.

The program has since emerged as the most ambitious deep-sea survey in the Indo-Pacific, having been responsible for discovering, naming and describing more than 2,000 new species of aquatic organisms.

The program also covered Panglao 2004, which yielded 1,200 species of decapod crustaceans and 6,000 species of mollusks, many of which were new to science.

By comparison, the total fauna of entire Japan has 1,700 species of decapods and the whole Mediterranean has 2,020 species of mollusks.

Final taxonomic works on all samples will be sent to MUSORSTOM’s network of some 200 specialists from 24 countriies. The scientific results will be published in the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos seires, an internationally-recognized official publication of the NMNH dedicated to deep-sea expeditions.

Joining the presentation of Panglao 2005 results are French Scientific Attache Claire Crochemore, Agriculture Undersecretary Salvador Salacup, BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr., and NFRDI Director Noel Barut.

Meanwhile, Sarmiento, Salacup and Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban led the industry in launching yesterday the Ornamental Fish Development Project at the Bioresearch Breeding and Hatchery Facility in Pila, Laguna.

They will be joined by Pila Mayor Wilfredo Quiat, Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, and Bioresearch president and general manager Wilson Ang.

BFAR is vigorously promoting fresh ornamental fish production in Southern Tagalog (Region 4-A) for exports.