ISABEL, LEYTE — Spearheading proactive marine conservation and coastal resource management, the Municipal Government of Isabel carried out a targeted extraction operation on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to remove predatory Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci), locally known as Dap-ag, from the waters of the Apale-Tolingon Fish Sanctuary.
The environmental campaign brought together a multi-agency coalition including the Municipal Agriculture Office of Isabel, the Ormoc Fisheries Division, the Ormoc Scuba Divers Club, and personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
Mitigating Coral Reef Degradation
The Dap-ag is a specialized coral-eating sea star that poses a severe ecological threat to tropical marine ecosystems. Population surges of the species can rapidly destroy extensive hard coral coverage, disrupting fish breeding grounds and threatening local coastal biodiversity.
Recognizing the vulnerability of marine protected areas along Leyte’s western coast, divers and marine experts systematically retrieved individual specimens from coral clusters across the sanctuary to prevent localized outbreak levels.
Preserving Coastal Wealth For Future Generations
The joint clean-up initiative aligns with the environmental preservation programs of Mayor Bennet Pongos, which emphasize marine protection, sustainable fisheries management, and inter-LGU collaboration in western Leyte.
Local officials highlighted that maintaining healthy coral reef networks directly supports coastal livelihood and fish stock sustainability, urging coastal communities and local fisherfolk to report unusual sea star sightings to ensure the long-term vitality of Isabel’s marine sanctuaries.
