A group of five seafarers from CNCo joined a coastal conservation exercise at Sarangani Bay in the Philippines in November. The project is part of an on-going partnership with Endangered Species International (“ESI”) to protect and restore coastal mangroves and coral reefs, with the aim of protecting the endangered Philippine forest turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis) and enhancing their biosphere to encourage population growth. The CNCo volunteers – Francis Carias, Frank Banico, Stephen Soco, Earl Candolita and Rico Alvarez – planted 400 mangrove seedlings in the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape area and also learned how to use abandoned fishing nets to make sacks in which to collect plastic waste and other debris. The group collected 424kg of non-biodegradable waste along the shoreline. They also had the opportunity to snorkel in Malapatan Marine Protected Area and to learn about coral reefs and various fish species found in the coral ecosystem. A highlight was seeing an adult turtle; the area is also home to endangered dolphins, dugongs, and whale sharks.
