Fusingan, Josefa Millen R.

In Constant Battle of Survival

In Episode 6 entitled Coral Seas of the series Blue Planet narrated by Sir David
Attenborough, it described the coral reefs as a constant battleground. Corals, as well as marine
animals, fight for their territory. The episode started as a larva develops into a polyp, and later on,
forms a colony, eventually forming reefs which could extend up to several miles. It then continued
to show how corals digest each other when their space is being violated. It also featured
humphead parrotfish and how it bites into even hard corals in search for algae, then excreting fine
sand which, after some time, forms beaches and islands inhabited by plants and birds. It also
enumerated a number of preys which are being hunted by their predators, as well as marine
animals fighting for their hunting ground and food. It also exhibited a variety of organisms: from
the smallest, to one of the largest such as humpback whales. Sir David Attenborough also
narrated on how different corals reproduce. Female corals expel their eggs, then males release
their sperm. Some corals are both male and female which results to the release of larvae already.
Towards the end, a hurricane destroys a hundred years or more worth of coral reef growth.
However, the larvae that were produced, in due time, will form a new generation of coral reefs.

Witnessing these things in this episode of Blue Planet, made me genuinely understand
the concepts discussed in class such as the reproduction of corals and how coral reefs protect
marine animals in every way. This also made me understand what these corals go actually
through as waves hit these reefs during a typhoon. Thoroughly understanding the concepts that
were discussed in class as well as those narrated by Sir David Attenborough made me think of
the significance of these corals to marine animals, moreover, to us humans.

It has always been a dream of mine to dive into the reefs and see the beauty of corals and
all the marine animals residing within. The Philippines, being located in the coral triangle and
recognized as the center of marine biodiversity, is home to over 500 coral species and 915 reef
fish species. The country has also a variety of seagrass and mangrove species which is essential
to the growth of the coral reef system. However, according to an interview with Dr. Wilfredo Y.
Licuanan, the Philippines has lost 33% of the coral reefs in the past 40 years, and the coral reef
stations who were in the ‘excellent’ category four decades ago declined in terms of live coral
cover. This decrease is not unique in our country and is also seen in other reefs such as The
Great Barrier Reef.
 According to Dr. Licuanan, direct human impact is the primary cause of damage in the
reefs, followed by the effect of climate change which is also aggravated by anthropological
influences. Dynamite fishing and pollution, among several others more, are just some of the
exploitation humans perpetrate that largely destroy the reefs. In a recent news published by
Inquirer, marine scientists are claiming that China’s reclamation activities and illegal fishing in
Panatag Shoal and Spratly islands resulting to lost marine resources cost about 33 billion pesos
per year, which is just a conservative estimate. In the same report, Maritime law expert Jay
Batongbacal said these numbers did not include part of our territory which are not visible to
satellites. In addition to the corals’ battle of survival against other corals, marine animals, and
natural disasters, they are also fighting for their survival against us, but what is different is, the
corals do not stand a chance against us humans.

In this day and age, the generations who are able to witness the beauty of our reefs are
lucky. These reefs are not just for tourist attraction but provide us with our daily needs. They also
help us by absorbing carbon dioxide which we produce incessantly and in excess. They also are
sources of medicines. Moreover, they protect us by decreasing the strength of waves and
typhoons that will hit us. Unfortunately, if we don’t extend our efforts of conservation of these
natural resources and heritage sites, the future generations won’t have the same luxury that we
have right now. Even worse, the future generation won’t even have a planet to live in.