Coral crisis in the Philippines: Innovative effort targets destructive starfish - Video
Off the coast of Badian in Cebu, Philippines, the clear blue waters hide a mounting ecological crisis as outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) continue to devastate large sections of coral reef.
These spiny starfish feed on coral tissue, leaving behind bleached and lifeless structures where once-thriving marine ecosystems flourished.
Footage filmed by Viory shows local tour guide and environmental advocate Bonifacio Jomio snorkelling through the reef, searching for the starfish before injecting them with coconut vinegar. The method, carried out by hand, is part of a local effort to slow the damage and protect what remains of the coral ecosystem.
Jomio said the reefs were in far better condition before Typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai. Since then, he explained, growing corals have increasingly been eaten and killed, prompting him to act in order to support both the marine environment and the coastal community that depends on it.
He described the use of coconut vinegar as a crucial alternative to chemical solutions. According to Jomio, the organic substance is fatal to the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish but does not harm other marine species, allowing interventions to be carried out without further damaging the reef.
Restoring coral reefs is essential for sustaining fish populations, Jomio said, as healthy corals provide breeding grounds for many species. He noted that the recovery process is slow, making protection efforts all the more urgent.
Despite the challenges, Jomio said his work is driven by a desire to preserve the reefs for future generations. His actions have attracted attention online, drawing praise from viewers while also prompting calls for wider institutional support to address the scale of the crisis.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
