COTS Monitoring Activity for Coral Reef Conservation

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), through its Research, Innovations and Extension Services (RIES) Office, conducted a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) Monitoring Activity on November 28–29 and December 2, 3, and 6, 2024. The monitoring took place across five coastal municipalities: Padre Burgos, Malitbog, San Francisco, Liloan, and Libagon. The initiative aimed to assess COTS presence and gauge the severity of potential outbreaks threatening the coral reef ecosystems. The highest number of COTS were recorded in Liloan and San Francisco, highlighting urgent conservation priorities. These efforts are part of SLSU’s proactive commitment to marine biodiversity protection.