VOLUME 19 NUMBER 1 (January to June 2026)

Assessment of marine macrofouling community in Cebu International Port, Mactan Channel, Visayas, Philippines

Port environments are the primary sites for biological invasions, with maritime transport being the main contributor to their increased frequency. Ports are anthropized areas characterized by altered environmental conditions and contain artificial structures that harbor introduced organisms that can become invasive over time. Cebu International Port in Mactan Channel in the Visayas region is an area of concern, being one of the largest international ports in the Philippines, and having no record of a biological baseline. This study surveyed five sampling sites in the port where PICES fouler collectors with modifications were deployed and retrieved after a period ranging from 45 to 65 days, from March to October 2021. There were four sampling collections. Retrieved organisms were identified through morphological characterization, and diversity indices were computed. Groups of identified foulers include polychaetes, barnacles, molluscs, ophiuroids, tunicates and bryozoans. The community composition shows a reef community, with polychaetes as dominant organisms. Non-indigenous species were detected, namely polychaetes Hydroides elegans and Pseudopotamilla oligophthalmos, as well as bryozoans Amathia verticillata and Tricellaria sp. H. elegans and A. verticillata are known to be highly invasive species. Index values peaked in August 2021 (southwest monsoon season). The baseline is essential in crafting policies that the community can use to prevent the spread of potentially invasive species. Monitoring species composition for the long-term a as it can be an effective tool for prevention and control of biological invasions.