Sedimentation Rate in Fringing Reefs of Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines with Reference to Coral Reef Condition

The study was conducted to determine and compare the rate of sedimentation in two fringing reefs in Honda Bay during two seasons, to discuss sedimentation rate in relation to selected environmental parameters, to determine the coral cover in the two stations, to compare it with data from 2000 and to explain eventual changes in coral cover in relation to the selected environmental parameters, especially sedimentation. The study was conducted from March 1, 2003 to November 30, 2003. Two stations, Bush and Meara Islands, in Honda Bay were established. Each station was mounted with three sets of 3-replicated sediment traps that were collected one week after installation. Each station was further assessed in terms of coral cover. The average sedimentation rates in Honda Bay during dry and wet season were 3.50 and 10.00 mg/cm2/day, respectively. The sedimentation rates in the two islands did not show significant difference at 5% level of significance. Benthic cover of both Bush and Meara was higher in 2003 than in 2000. The fact that coral cover is able to recover despite sedimentation seems to indicate that sedimentation has not yet reached critical levels in Honda Bay.