As part of the commitment of Nickel Asia Corporation - Hinatuan Mining Corporation (NAC-HMC) in protecting the environment in all its operations, the Water Resource Management Section of its Mine Environmental Protection and Enhancement Office (MEPEO) installed two coral nurseries in the waters within Hinatuan Island mine site.
The installation of the coral nurseries was done in partnership with Caraga State University (CSU) Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-Governance (CRÈME) Director, Dr. Romell A. Seronay as consultant.
NAC-HMC Marine Biologist, Jusua D. Dela Peña participated in the installation with the help of professional divers from Surigao City last August 26-27 earlier this year. The installation of the coral nurseries took two days to complete as the team needed to gather coral fragments. A total of 271 coral fragments were installed in the coral nurseries of NAC-HMC.
“By bringing the coral fragments into our coral nurseries, we give them the opportunity to survive and recover. If we do not take action, the fragments would be drifted on the ocean floor or be buried in the sand lowering their chances of survival”, said Mr. Dela Peña.
“Moreover, by setting up the coral fragments in the coral nursery we are able to give them the chance to produce more corals in the future that will be helpful to the marine life and coral reef ecosystem”, he further added.
Growing-up To Their Potential
A few weeks after the installation, the coral nurseries were visited by the Chairperson of the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT), Ms. Reyana Dawn U. Garcia of MGB-Regional Office No. 13 with the assistance of NAC-HMC Marine Biologist Jusua D. Dela Peña.
“During the visit, we noted that all coral fragments were healthy and survived the few weeks in the new environment it was placed”, said Mr. Dela Peña.
“On October 13, 2019 when I checked again, there were no mortalities. This means that all 271 installed coral fragments survived. Moreover, in the span of one and a half months, the corals reared in the coral nurseries had already branched. Branching in corals is a good sign that it is healthy”, added Mr. Dela Peña.
