Born and raised in the coastal regions of the Philippines, Phemie Z. Go discovered her love for marine biodiversity at the age of 10, which led her to become an advocate for ocean preservation.
Through scuba diving, she has witnessed firsthand the beauty and fragility of coral reefs.
Coral reefs, covering less than 0.1% of the ocean floor, support 25% of marine species.
However, due to human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change, nearly 50% of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost or severely degraded. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, caused by climate change, pose significant threats to coral reefs, leading to coral bleaching and weakened reef ecosystems.
Without urgent intervention, it is predicted that 70-90% of coral reefs could disappear by mid-century.
In response to this crisis, coral restoration efforts are gaining traction. Phemie’s experiences in Zambales under Dr. Peter Harrison’s team and her involvement in a coral restoration project at Coral Cliff, Bohol, underscore the potential of both sexual and asexual coral reproduction techniques.
These projects aim to restore reef health, improve biodiversity, and engage local communities in marine conservation. Coral restoration efforts, like those at Coral Cliff, involve the community in hands-on activities and training, aiming to make conservation sustainable and impactful.
Phemie stresses that coral reefs can recover if human-induced threats such as climate change and pollution are mitigated. She calls for a global coordinated response that includes community involvement and policy changes to preserve these vital ecosystems for future generations.
