‘The Philippines is the center of the center of shore-fish biodiversity.’
These words summarized Dr. Kent E. Carpenter’s study and appreciation of the country’s rich marine biodiversity in the Verde Island Passage, between Batangas and the island of Mindoro. His research inspired environmental advocates to intensify their campaign for the protection and conservation of the country’s rich marine biodiversity.
For nearly 50 years, Carpenter passionately conducted scientific research on marine science and biology that significantly contributed to science and policy in the Philippines.
He was an invaluable expert witness that backed the country’s victory in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 that reaffirmed Manila’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
He likewise coordinated the International Union for Conservation of Nature Global Marine Species Assessment to map extinction risks for nearly 20,000 marine species.
In his honor, in recognition of his taxonomic work, two fish species bear his name-the Carpenter’s flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri) and Carpenter’s yellowtop jewelfish (Meganthias carpenteri).
Carpenter’s affection for the Philippines, confessing that he is a Filipinophile, stretched back to his days as a US Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s.
However, his life suddenly ended when he was shot dead inside his home in Negros Oriental on the evening of July 12.
His colleagues in the academic and scientific community strongly condemned and mourned his killing, while they extolled his dedication and significant contributions to marine science, that benefitted not only the Philippines but also worldwide.
Pioneering studies
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) said Dr. Kent E. Carpenter’s pioneering studies on Philippine coral reefs, associated fish, and fisheries are foundational to coral reef ecology.
Carpenter was credited by the UP-MSI for the designation of the Verde Island Passage as a National Protected Area and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
‘His collaborations and partnerships with various institutions for tropical marine ecology contributed to the capacity-building and development of Filipino scientists and students,’ the UP-MSI said in a statement.
Since UP MSI’s early beginning as a research center, Dr. Carpenter has been a ‘great friend’ to the Institute.
‘He continued to be an enduring influence on many other marine scientists, fisherfolk organizations, and conservation groups,’ the institute said.
‘Distinguished marine biologist’
Silliman University aptly described him as a ‘distinguished marine biologist.’ Carpenter was a research associate at Silliman, and professor emeritus of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University.
According to Silliman University, over the course of his career, Carpenter made ‘groundbreaking contributions that transformed global understanding of the Philippine marine biodiversity.’
‘For nearly five decades, Doctor Carpenter maintained a close relationship with [Silliman University]. His collaboration with the university began in 1976 when he worked alongside the late National Scientist Dr. Angel C. Alcala and fellow marine scientists in pioneering studies on the rich marine ecosystems of the Philippines.’
A generous mentor, collaborator and friend
According to Silliman University, Carpenter’s partnership with renowned Filipino marine biologists and scientists helped establish the university as an internationally respected center for marine and coastal research.
It likewise contributed significantly to the Silliman’s scientific understanding of coral reef biodiversity, reef fish ecology, fisheries sustainability, and marine conservation.
‘Beyond his remarkable scholarly achievements, Doctor Carpenter was a generous mentor, collaborator, and friend to the Silliman community. He freely shared his knowledge, encouraged young scientists, and helped cultivate a culture of scientific excellence, international collaboration, and environmental stewardship that continues to shape the University’s marine research programs,’ the university said.
Died on July 12, the 10th year of WPS arbitration win
Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, a DOST Balik Scientist and senior research fellow at Silliman University, was Carpenter’s friend and colleague.
Emmanuel said that Carpenter’s ’50 years of research on marine biodiversity and conservation in the Philippines continued to [widen and deepen] our understanding of fisheries, a source of livelihood for millions of Filipinos and a pillar of our food security,’ Emmanuel noted.
He lamented the brutal murder of Carpenter was all the more heartbreaking as it took place on the very day, on July 12, as the country celebrated the 10th anniversary of the historic victory of the Philippines at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 that reaffirmed Manila’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Nevertheless, he said he refused to remember Carpenter as a victim of a tragic killing, saying ‘he was much more than that.’
Gave science clear, powerful voice
Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, executive director of the Environmental Studies Institute at Miriam College had the privilege of working with Carpenter in developing policies for the protection of the Verde Island Passage.
She described the significance of Carpenter’s studies as ‘invaluable to me whenever I had to defend the need for stronger protection measures for our marine ecosystems. His work gave science a clear and powerful voice in policy, and his contribution to Philippine marine biodiversity conservation will not be forgotten.’
‘As we know, many competing interests surround the use of our valuable marine areas. In such situations, credible scientific data is essential in demonstrating why these ecosystems must be protected and managed sustainably,’ Lim, former executive director of Asean Center for Biodiversity, and director of Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-BMB).
A true ocean champion, Filipino ally
Besides his research on Verde Island Passage, Carpenter was just as passionate about the Sulu Sea, the Visayan Sea, and just about any part of the greater ocean in and around the Philippines, according to DENR-BMB Assistant Director Mariglo Laririt.
Laririt said the DENR-BMB ‘commit to honoring his [Carpenter’s] remarkable legacy by continuing the work he devoted his life to, protecting our country’s rich biodiversity, and ensuring that future generations inherit healthy seas, thriving coasts, and resilient ecosystems.’
She said: ‘Not many of us may be as brilliant and productive, but we can strive to be as steadfast and generous. ‘Maraming salamat’ [Thank you very much], Dr. Kent Carpenter.’
Tubbataha Reef’s champion
Carpenter’s having worked hard for science was manifested in his stint at Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (TRNP)-for free-since 2018. He would have two trips a year to gather fish data, according to Angelique Songco, protected area superintendent at TRNP.
Songco expressed her deep gratitude to Carpenter for his big contribution to the park.
‘He’d helped identify over a hundred species previously unrecorded in Tubbataha,’ she said.
He was full of ideas and energy that they still have future projects. ‘Plans are in the offing to publish a guide to the fishes of Tubbataha with Dr. Klaus Steifel.’
‘[But] the project won’t be as much fun without him,’ Songco said.
Starstruck to a good listener, story teller
Rene Abesamis, associate professor at UP MSI, started working with Carpenter professionally and with National Scientist Angel Alcala at Silliman University in 1998 as a research assistant at UP-MSI, studying ‘muro-ami’ fishing.
Muro-ami, a Japanese term, refers to a destructive drive-in net fishing technique that originated in Okinawa. The highly destructive and illegal fishing technique involves dropping large, heavy stones or cement blocks into coral reefs to smash them, scaring the fish out of their shelters so they can be trapped in encircling nets. The method caused irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and exploitative labor practices, particularly forced child labor.
‘I remember being starstruck, and rightly so. Kent wrote one of the first papers on muro-ami with NS [National Scientist] Angel Alcala in 1977, and was the world expert on fusiliers [dalagang bukid], the main catch of muro-ami,’ Abesamis shared.
Carpenter patiently listened and gave him advice when he was a fresh graduate who was still figuring out the ropes.
According to Abesamis, Carpenter’s paper in 1981 with his friends in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources coral reef science team was particularly important to him, as the first real study on coral reef fish ecology in the Philippines.
‘I will also remember him for his amazing stories about how Balicasag Island [in Bohol] and Sumilon Island [in Cebu] were like underwater in the 1970s, a time when only a handful of people were lucky enough to be scuba diving in those places. His stories portrayed coral reefs back then as wild and fantastic,’ Abesamis shared.
‘But one memory stands out the most-he was not shy to tell anyone who cared to listen that he is a true Filipinophile because he loved the Philippines deeply. Rest now, Kent. May you get the justice that you deserve,’ he said.
Higher concentration of species
For her part, environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, former vice president of Oceana Philippines, said Carpenter’s and Victor Springer’s 2005 landmark report also showed that ‘there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea.’
According to Estenzo-Ramos, it is unfortunate that progressive laws and even constitutional edicts are thrown aside for short-term gains.
‘They are just for selfish gains. The fight to stop the plunder of our resources must continue, the least we can do for our fallen heroes like Kent Carpenter and land and environmental defenders,’ she said partly in Filipino.
A true inspiration
For Mar Saniano, senior conservation impact manager at the Wildlife Conservation Society, although she knew Carpenter only through his papers, his work, especially on Verde Island Passage, has been foundational to her own advocacy journey and a message she has carried into countless conversations about marine conservation.
‘I am deeply grateful for the lasting impact he has had on marine protection in the Philippines. I extend my heartfelt condolences to all whose lives and work were touched by his remarkable legacy,’ she said.
‘Tremendous loss to the scientific community’
Educational institutions, scientists, government officials, members of the academe, former collaborators, nongovernment organizations, and friends were among those who expressed sadness and anger over the killing of Carpenter, and called it a ‘tremendous loss’ to the scientific community.
The UP-MSI joined the marine science community ‘in the shared grief and the collective call for justice to be served.’
Silliman University said: ‘We join his family, colleagues, students, and the international scientific community in mourning the loss of an exceptional scientist whose life’s work advanced the understanding and conservation of marine biodiversity around the world.’
Silliman, in a statement, described Carpenter’s passing ‘a tremendous loss… to the generations of students, researchers, conservationists, and institutions whose work has been enriched by his intellect, generosity, and unwavering dedication to science.’
‘Deeply saddened and angered,’ Lim said: ‘We already have so few international scientists dedicating their work to Philippine biodiversity, and now we have lost one of them.’
For DENR-BMB, Laririt said: ‘We mourn the passing of Dr. Kent Carpenter, a true ocean champion. Through his prolific work and steadfast dedication to marine scientific research in the Philippines, he became a formidable ally to Filipino coastal communities, researchers, and conservationists.’
Estenzo-Ramos lamented: ‘For a man who so loved the Philippines and the Filipinos, and the precious creations that we are blessed to have, he [Carpenter] and no one else deserves to die such a violent death.’
Capenter’s death and of many other environment defenders reaffirm the Global Witness Study for 12 consecutive years that ‘our country is the most dangerous place in Asia for environmental and human rights advocates,’ she noted.
Kent Elson Sorgon, an instructor at the Department of Biology at Ateneo de Manila University, a systematic ichthyologist and coral reef fish ecologist, said Carpenter was his mentor when he was starting with reef fish taxonomy and evolution.
He said the murder of Carpenter added to a growing list of violence against environmental advocates but also against scientists, many of whom are at the forefront of research and advocacy for the communities living alongside the ecosystems they study.