Ormoc Bay cleared of starfishes

THE City Agriculture and Services Office (Caso) has begun clearing the seabed of Ormoc Bay of Crown of Thorn Starfishes (Cots) last Mar. 11. Irish Belmonte who heads Caso’s Animal Production and Fisheries Division said they have since collected more than 300 Cots that destroy the corals.

Belmonte said they are able to collect 100 Cots for every hour of diving. Cots multiply easily and some of them grow in hard to reach areas like under the rocks. There is now a Cots outbreak in Southern Leyte while in Ormoc, the starfishes have actually began eating into the corals. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 12-18, 2012)