Reef buds attract more fish species

Various species of fish are now attracted to Boracay waters because of the reef bud technology originally developed by Austrian geoscientist Harald Kremnitz.
Kremnitz entrusted the technology to his long time friend and associate Benjie Tayag.
Tayag said that the reef bud technology was originally made of European materials but it now uses locally natural and organic materials for economic reason. The hollow pyramid-shaped reef bud, which measures 1.2 meters by 1.2 m and weighs around 450-600 kilograms.
"The reef bud technology consists of gravel and sand. One of its unique distinction is it has a concentrate formula that produces micro-current when submerged into the water," said Tayag on Monday.
This micro current creates a sensation which attracts fish species in coming. Tayag's group the Sanggkalikasan Cooperative is planning to study the effects of the sensation brought about by the micro-current to the fish species.
"Above all, the reef bud technology was meant to provide food and shelter for fish in order to lure them in coming to Boracay. The sensation is just an added value for this project," said Tayag.
Around 5,000 reef buds were planted by the cooperative all around Boracay last year. The reef buds were planted hoping to restore the damaged coral reefs in the resort island under the program dubbed as "Code Blue" a medical term for a condition that needs urgent attention.
Experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) recently indicated that the damaged coral reefs in Boracay caused beach erosion.
"After we have planted the reef buds last year, we have seen hopes of fish species coming again to Boracay. Many marine species have disappeared in this resort island because of the destruction of coral reefs. Based on our survey conducted last December we have seen favorable result. We are confident of the success of this project because we wanted to showcase the technology in the world. Aside to Boracay we have similar project in Batangas and Cavite provinces," Tayag said.
The said project is also being supported by the "Filipinovation" of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of San Carlos and the Bridging Communities Program of the Globe Network.