Baltazar Island teems with marine species. Why?

Baltazar Island is right in the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor and is home to new Sawshark species and underwater caves.

Diving at Baltazar Island

Being in the periphery of the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor that teems with concentrations of marine biodiversity, there are a lot of unexplored sections of coral reefs, steep walls and underwater caves and canyons, Marinduque is among the top scuba dive destinations in the country. Here lies Baltazar Island, one of the famous Tres Reyes Islands.

 The entire Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor, a busy sea lane, covers portions of the coastal waters of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon. This site has been dubbed by the scientists as "the world’s blue water version of the Amazon River basin."

A published Conservation International (CI) report stressed its importance to marine conservation because habitat threats in the Philippines could result in mass extinctions of species similar to what is occurring in the Amazon River Basin. "The Philippines can therefore be considered as the marine counterpart of this famous terrestrial center of biodiversity", the report stated.

CI said the Passage “has arguably the highest concentration of marine species of any region in the world’s oceans, including whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and giant clams (Tridacna gigas).”

Specimen of Sawshark, Pristophorus lanae caught northwest of Baltazar Island

Baltazar Island: New species of Sawshark found here, too

                           A new species of Sawshark from the Philippines.

Specimen of Pristophorus lanae caught northwest of Baltazar Island in the Philippines on 10 December 1966. Ebert & Wilms (2013).

Sawsharks (Pristiophoridae) are highly specialized Sharks related to Skates and Rays (Batoids). They have flattened bodies and highly elongate snouts, with rows of lateral teeth, which are used to sideswipe prey Fish, stunning them prior to consumption. Sawsharks are a small group, with seven species currently recognised in two genera. The earliest known fossil Sawsharks date to the Late Cretaceous, although their sister-group relationship with the Batoids suggests the group may be somewhat older.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 24 December 2013, David Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the Department of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences and the South African Institute for Aquatice Biodiversity, and Hana Wilms of the Marine Biology Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, describe a new species of Sawshark from four specimens caught in the waters off the Philippines in 1966 (these specimens have been preserved in the ichthyological collection of the California Academy of Sciences since their capture, and have previously been referred to as members of an undescribed species in several publications, but have not been formally described until now), and two further specimens caught in 2008.

The new species is placed in the genus Pristiophorus, and given the specific name lanae, in honour of Lana Ebert, a Shark enthusiast (and presumably a relative of David Ebert), in honour of her graduation from the University of San Francisco. Pristophorus lanae is a slender bodied five-gilled Sawshark with a narrow, relatively long rostrum (snout). Colouration is a uniform dark brown above, lighter below, with no bars, blotches or other distinctive markings. The largest specimen is 830 mm in length, and the smallest 396 mm. The specimens were caught at depths of between 229 m and 593 m.

- Joe Bauwens, Sciency Thoughts

The Intriguing Keeper's Dwelling and Geodetic Azimuth Mark in Baltazar Island: Potential sites for tourism development

Baltazar Keeper's Dwelling and Lighthouse, 2008.
Photo: Lakwatserong Sulit

Earlier photo of Baltazar Keeper's Dwelling.
Baltazar is one of the Tres Reyes Islands

Historical significance:

1.  Baltasar Lighthouse was built during the American occupation between 1901-1903, when Howard Taft, a future US president and Marinduque visitor during those days, was the Governor-General. The director of the Bureau of Coastal Surveys was the famed George R. Putnam at that time.

It was eventually ravaged by time and typhoons, but in 1954 RA 1144 was passed appropriating funds for lighthouse stations including the repair of the said Baltasar Lighthouse keeper's dwelling.

The lighthouse was eventually rehabilitated through a 1991 deal with Japan's ODA Loan executed by MARINA. The keeper's dwelling apparently remained untouched. Latest picture taken in 2008, shows the structure damaged by typhoons/elements but later stronger typhoons finally brought it down.  Until then it was the oldest American-built standing structure in Marinduque but now it’s gone.

2.  Azimuth Station Baltasar:

Station Balanacan (more popularly known as Luzon Datum), in Brgy. Hinanggayon had for its geodetic azimuth mark the Station BALTASAR (azimuth: 90 12' 37".00) located in Baltazar Island, one of the Tres Reyes Islands.  O.W. Ferguson established both stations with H.D. King as Chief Of Party. The historical document on the triangulation of the Philippine Islands gives the establishment of this Azimuth Station as 1906.

In view of this, there exists AN AZIMUTH MARKER in Station Baltasar (such a marker's actual existence is, however, not mentioned in any currently available literature).  But with GPS coordinates specified it, it is right there for the curious adventurers to trace, where might be found even more intriguing relics.

Background:

The Philippines has a long history of diverse settlers. Chinese traders were here in the 10^th century AD (Don’t forget that the Marinduque Celadon Jar has turned out to be the oldest jar of foreign origin found in the Philippines). The Muslims settled in the southern part of the islands in the 15^th century. Then the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan rediscovered these islands in 1521, the first European settlement was made here by Spain under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1565. In fact the national government is advising those interested to join the quincentennial anniversary of Magellan’s discoveries which has begun.

What about the Americans? They were here in the country later of course at the turn of the 20th century. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) executed the earliest topographic work of significance from 1901-1942. Numerous local datums were established at “Astro stations” in various parts of the Philippines. But as the triangulation was extended to the central and southern part of the islands it was found necessary to establish a new datum, the Luzon Datum of 1911. It is defined by its origin near San Andres Point on Marinduque Island. Making this island the geographical center of the Philippines.

That point is at station Balanacan (name of the port) where: Fo = 13° 33’ 41.000” North, Do = 121° 52’ 03.000” East of Greenwich, and the geoid/spheroid separation Ho  - ho = 0.34 meters.

But it cannot exist without an azimuth. The defining geodetic azimuth (from south) to station Baltasar is: ao = 009° 12’ 37.000”, the ellipsoid of reference is the Clarke 1866 where: a = 6,378,206.4 meters, and 1/f  = 294.9786982. *

It was well controlled by 98 measured base lines, 52 observed azimuths, and 49 latitude and telegraphic longitude stations. The supplementary triangulation extended along the shores of bays and harbors and up rivers and creeks.

CONCLUSION:

The defining geodetic azimuth (from south) to station Baltazar is  ao = 009° 12’ 37.000”, the ellipsoid of reference is the Clarke 1866 where: a = 6,378,206.4 meters, and 1/f  = 294.9786982. Baltazar Island is one of the Tres Reyes Islands.

The historical documentation on the triangulation of the Philippine Islands provides the establishment of this Station in 1906.

It isn't wishful thinking to make a claim that there still exists an AZIMUTH MARKER in Station Baltasar (such a marker is, however, not mentioned in any of currently available literature, but only waiting to be discovered). This, however, may be a challenge to other historical researchers and investigators. But it brings to mind how the stone marker with a hole (6cm deep and 1.5 cm in diameter) was found at the summit of Mataas na Bundok in Brgy. Hinanggayon.

As far as the lighthouse keeper’s dwelling ravaged by typhoons is concerned, the possibility of the structure’s rehabilitation should continuously be explored as the place, alongside other tourist curiosities (underwater caves, rare marine species discovered), is another tourist spot just waiting there to be explored, for protection and further development.

*Used as a source for this blog is PE&RS Grids and Datums, August 1999 Issue - Philippines, by Clifford J. Mugnier

Sample of Azimuth Mark.  Geodetic Survey Benchmark - Image Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Commerce

Another Azimuth Marker sample for the curious.