Naesco,
The IMA took over management of a coral farm in 2001 situated in Barangay Coway on Orlango Island that was started by Dr. Thomas Heeger with funding from the German government. Since the export of corals was (and still is) illegal, the coral farm was used to support coral reef rehabilitation. Giant clams obtained from Dr. Ed Gomez were also held on the site. The corals planted on the site grew into a coral reef and many species of fishes returned. The IMA turned over management of the coral farm facilities to the community in 2004. The last I heard the giant clams were being sold in a seaside restaurant.
A coral farm established by Telapak in Bali, Indonesia has grown into a coral reef that has enhanced fish populations near the village of Les. The site is now a dive tourism destination. Fishes like green chromis, blennies, and gobies are captured within a mile of the Batari LeSatari export facility managed by the collectors' association.
More income can be generated to the collectors/fishers by exporting corals, live rock, and giant clams to the marine aquarium trade (Rubec et al. 2001, 2002). Since the organisms being cultured can be used to rear subsequent generations, the farms do not require continual harvesting from the wild. They can also be used to support reef restoration programs. In the case of the coral farm in Serangan (in Bali, Indonesia) 30% of the corals being cultured are being used to support coral reef restoration programs.
I am optimistic that the Philippine government will legalize the export of corals and other reef organisms reared on coral farms for the aquarium trade.
Peter Rubec
Rubec, P.J., V.R. Pratt, and F. Cruz. 2001c. Territorial use rights in fisheries to manage areas for farming coral reef fish and invertebrates for the aquarium trade. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht The Netherlands, Aquarium Sciences and Conservation 3:119-134.
Rubec, P. J., and J. Palacol. 2002. Farming Coral Reef Invertebrates for Reef Rehabilitation and the Aquarium Trade. Pp. 107-113, In: J. Breman (ed.), Marine Geography, Environmental Systems Research Institute, ESRI Press, Redlands, California, U.S.A.