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The Sarangani Bay Festival celebrates the Ocean month by pitching in an awareness program to local fisherfolk about the effects of the Crown of Thorns otherwise known as "Dap-ag". Over 36 Fishermen attended the forum and several of them joined the Dap-ag collection at Lago, Glan.  

(Photo by Jesus Tinapay of Davao Camera Club)

Crown of thorns are predatory starfishes that eat corals.  Many studies have been made on why there is such an outbreak of crown of thorns. One theory states that more human activity affecting the ocean could possibly cause plankton growth, increasing the CoTs viability to live and reproduce.

There is indeed a need for CoTs to be controlled, and one of the measures is to remove them from the ocean.

The Sarangani Bayfest activity done in Lago harvested a total of 272 Crown of Thorns for just a one-hour collection period. Each fisherman was given P5.00 incentive per CoT.  The youngest one who joined is an 8 year old boy from Glan, named John. SMART Foundation who was very happy with the outcome, gave him an additional P500.00 to encourage him and other youth to participate in saving our eco-system.

(Photo by Jesus Tinapay of Davao Camera Club)

Sarangani Bay still needs more of this kind of activity.  Chris Dearne from Tuna City Divers also participated and suggested to continue with the program.  Support from the General Santos City Environment & Natural Resource Office (CENRO), MSU students, from ECPC (Environmental Conservation and Protection Center), SMART Foundation, Alcantara Foundation, Rotary Club, Sumajit Family, and Go Sarangani Travel, made this activity possible.

 (In Photo is Chris Dearne with his CoT's.  Photo taken by Jesus Tinapay of Camera Club Davao)

 The Provincial Environment & Natural Resource Office (PENRO) together with ECPC, and the with support of other NGO's committed to do this activity in other parts of Sarangani.