With innumerable creatures that await description, the endless depths of the ocean is one of the parts of the planet that emanates mystique. This gigantic underwater community bestows refuge to millions of inhabitants of all kinds - from those that swim to those that hover, glide, crawl and whirl- all of them big and small.
To commemorate the importance of our ocean and the need to sustain it, World Ocean Day is being celebrated every 8th of June, annually. It aims to knock some sense onto people’s mind across the globe on the issues and concerns about our oceans.
This year highlights the theme “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”, a call for everyone to work together on the protection and conservation of our marine ecosystem because the undeniable truth is- our ocean’s state will greatly affect the human race’s fate. It’s a huge source of our food, that’s why.
In Davao Region, Department of Environment and Natural Resources XI’s Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel Evasco showcased the abundance of its ocean life through underwater photography. Today, we are to encapsulate the celebration through an online photo exhibition trilogy. This series will celebrate the magnificent world of the ocean and the whimsical facets of sea critters that live in it.
RED Evasco, who is likewise a professional diver and an underwater photography enthusiast, dredged underneath the region’s vast tropical waters and was able to capture a few of the rare, fascinating yet quite unpopular critters- clown frogfish, whip-coral goby, bumblebee shrimp, blue-ringed octopus, pygmy seahorse, candy crab, urchin shrimp and whip coral shrimp to name some.
These critters hold a vital role in keeping the health of our oceans and maintain the balance of its ecosystem. But we must not be deceived by its tiny sizes. Under certain conditions, each one is equipped with clever strategies to ensure their own survival.
The Warty frogfish or clown frogfish (𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) for example. This critter which grows up to 5.9 inches can unknowingly lure its prey just by changing its color and pigmentation patterns. These species are often found secluded on rocky and coral walls.
𝘎𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪 – the Urchin Bumblebee Shrimp is another unique critter that was luckily found and captured by the director. This teeny-tiny shrimp which grows to about a centimeter habituates in a cake urchin and usually dwells on its spines.
𝘎𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪, differs with other Urchin Bumblee Shrimps for its shorter but thicker physical attributes.
But not all little sea creatures are endearing. There’s that adorable, harmless critter, then there’s also this tiny but deadly one like the Blue-ringed octopus (𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦). The said creature may fit in one’s palm, but you’d rather not touch it because this species of octopus is venomous. Sources say that its venom can kill over two dozen of people in just a few minutes. We might as well spare this critter to our “I’ll-hold-it “kind of photo opportunities.
Through photography, RED Evasco seeks to hoist awareness among citizens that we need to conserve our oceans because underneath it is a society of marine inhabitants that depend on it. We need to protect their home, just like how we safeguard ours here on land.
These and more details to this feature’s photo gallery.
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- Parent Category: News & Events
- Category: Press Releases
- Published: 09 June 2022