ASV PROJECT
Introducing
REAL-TIME MONITORING &
AUTONOMOUS DATA COLLECTION
Deploying Autonomous Surface Vessel
to Advance Marine and Environmental Health Research in the Philippines
THE MOTIVATION
The Philippines, along with the rest of the Coral Triangle, is one of the most threatened and vulnerable areas to rapid habitat loss and species extinction with perturbations in the environment. The country experienced rapid decline in marine resources, particularly over the past few decades, due to water contamination, overfishing, climate change, and other stressors.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
ASV deployment
Test the suitability of deploying an autonomous monitoring system in the seas and embayments of the Philippines.
identify research applications
Test for the possible applications of the autonomous monitoring system in different marine settings: mariculture seascapes, tourist destinations, and marine protected areas.
forward
environmental
health research
Use the ASV for environmental health monitoring and data collection.
RESEARCH SITES
The project seeks to better understand and monitor the physico-chemical conditions and environmental quality across three marine sites in the Philippines: Boracay Island in Aklan, Bolinao in Pangasinan, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Sulu Sea.
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Research and data collection in the two coastal sites, Bolinao and Boracay, focus on natural and anthropogenic runoff, effluent, and other factors, including submarine groundwater discharges and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, which are suspected to be associated with nutrient fluxes, harmful algal blooms, and other factors that impact recreational water quality and environmental health.
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Research and data collection in Tubbataha, an open-ocean site situated in a Marine Protected Area, focuses on activities known or suspected to impact water quality and marine biodiversity (fish and coral reef systems).
BOLINAO, PANGASINAN
Bolinao represents anthropogenically altered watersheds and receiving waters with mariculture seascapes. Bolinao, where the hatchery and extension laboratory of the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute is located, provides a suitable pilot test site for the autonomous monitoring system.
Nutrient fluxes
Harmful algal blooms
Pesticides & endocrine disruptors
Role of submarine groundwater discharge
BORACAY, AKLAN
Boracay is a famous tourist destination,
recently plagued with algal infestation due to high nutrient load and likely high bacterial counts from sewage and wastewater effluent will be measured, mapped, and monitored.
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Potential health risks for locals & tourists
Nutrient fluxes
Algal blooms
Coral damage & decline
TUBBATAHA REEFS
NATURAL PARK
The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park represents the most pristine condition and will allow autonomous monitoring even beyond the three months that the site is accessible to researchers.
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Coral & biodiversity health & preservation
Nutrients & species decline
Remote maritime activity monitoring
Unique opportunity to collect extensive data in otherwise restricted area
