Help Rebuild the Gulf of Mexico Barrier Reef

Dear Supporters, 

Start of 2020 and the Puerto Morelos team is in full conservation and restoration mode.  We have received 29 participants for the marine conservation program so far this quarter and are looking forward to receiving more participants the rest of the year. 

So far, our participants have been giving hands on collaboration on the tank and laboratory maintenance of 500 coral heads from 12 different species. Taking care of the young corals and helping them grow so they can be transplanted to reef nurseries.  Helping our partners in the coral restoration project from CRIP with 196.5 work hours.

But lab work is not the only thing we are doing in Puerto Morelos, our participants have been undergoing training on dive related topics to better their diving skills and become sustainable environmental aware divers. As well as learning reef monitoring methodology. This year we changed from the MBRS synoptic monitoring program methodology to the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment methodology. Our participants are now trained in identification of specific fish and invertebrate indicator species as well as the coral species. By doing these we are able to work together collecting data that our partners use to assess the health to the reed and make recommendations for the proper use and maintenance of this great ecosystem. 

Our participants have also given a hand making sure that our oceans and coasts are cleaner by undertaking weekly beach cleans.  So far collecting a total of 180 kg of diverse debris and separating it into recyclable and non-recyclable as well as in putting our debris collecting data online with our partners of Ocean Conservancy.

 In February the team also participated in a sand castle challenge. The idea behind this was to have a sandcastle competition in the beach using only natural materials obtained from the beach. This activity was carried on to create an environmental awareness of the debris on the beach for both tourists and locals who approached the activity but also as a fundraiser to collect funds for the coral restoration project of CRIP. 

One of our main partners in Mexico, The Healthy Reef Initiative, had this year’s presentation of the health of the Mesoamerican Reef System. The data collected by our team of participants and staff in 2019 was used to determine the health of this delicate ecosystem. Unfortunately, this year the health of the reef has deteriorated for the first time in 12 years.   Part of the GVI Puerto Morelos team assisted to the presentation of this report that included presentations by several specialists from the government and non-governmental organizations, who talked about the state of the reef and several actions being undertaken to protect, conserve and restore this ecosystem.

 The GVI team also got the opportunity for a more personal presentation from the communications officer of The Healthy Reef Initiative, Marisol Rueda Flores. She talked about the current threats for the Mesoamerican Reef System and what actions that organization and their partners, including us, were undertaking to mitigate this negative impacts.

We have continued to accomplish many of our goals in collaborating with our in-country partners in the main objective of the conservation of the some of the coral reefs communities of the Mesoamerican Reef System. This quarter being able to advance slowly but constantly toward our main goal of 265 thousand coral heads transplanted to the reef by the year 2022.  Starting the Caribbean King crab marine aquaculture program to restock the natural populations of these reef gardeners who gives such important service to the coral reef. Working toward the installation of another coral nursery in the ocean, this one to be under the sole responsibility of the GVI team, with guidance from the CRIP staff, for its maintenance and well keeping.

Also, we are currently working with our in country partners on being able to start a water quality monitoring program to be able to verify the water quality on the sites the corals are going to be relocated. 

And this year we are also looking forward to starting a shark tracking project, to gain more valuable information on the ecology of these great ocean predators.

 Through these actions we have been able to create a clear picture and conscience of the need to work on the conservation and restoration of this ecosystem. We are still a long way from our long term  objectives but with the generous help from our supporters and donors we can continue working to achieve this objective.

As always, all of this wonderful work couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of our supporters and supporters, a great shout out to you all!!! Thank you!!!

With Gratitude,

Mexico Marine

Dear Supporters,

Coral reef conservation and restoration is our main objective in the Marine Conservation program of Puerto Morelos, which goes hand in hand with the number 14 sustainable development goal of the United Nations: Life Below Water “Careful management of this essential global resource”. 

This last Quarter, 21 volunteers joined us in the GVI Puerto Morelos HUB to make a difference in the protection and restoration of the coral reef ecosystem. Daily our volunteers participated in laboratory activities for the Coral Restoration Program of our in country partner the Regional Research Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CRIAP). Achieving a total of 478 hours of manpower collaborating with our partners with the daily activities in the laboratory. 

Besides the laboratory work, our team got several opportunities to collaborate with our partners in several activities in the field: 

-October 16, Conch Shell population evaluation in Chinchorro Bank. 

-November 25, In situ coral fragmentation or cloning and relocation as well as coral nursery maintenance in the reef of Contoy Island. 

-December 2, In situ coral fragmentation or cloning and relocation as well as coral nursery maintenance in the reef of Cancun. #

Apart from helping our partners, volunteers learned about the coral reef ecosystem, it’s inhabitants and the hazards they face. The got to have a first-hand look of this sublime ecosystem while either learning of the different species of coral that form this leaving underwater cities and its diseases or the different species of fish that are associated with them reef ecosystem and that are used as indicators of reef health. 

Nine of the volunteers surpassing the learning challenge and being able to collect data of the health of the coral reef for our partners to use in the divulgation of the current state of this ecosystem and to use as a baseline for the proper management of the coral reefs. 

With all this work, our team of staff and volunteers still found time to undertake a fundraising challenge, Rally for the Reef on November 8. Joining in in several teams, tackling different challenges that culminated in a massive beach clean up in one of Puerto Morelos beaches. With all of this our volunteers were able to raise $1’068 USD which will be used to help our in country partner buy materials and equipment they gravely need to continue with the coral restoration program. With previous fund the Puerto Morelos team was able to help our in country partner training and certifying their staff in Emergency First Responder skills as well as help them acquire diving insurance for their members to continue doing the amazing work of restoring the coral reefs. 

With the generous help from our supporters and donors all of this wonderful work couldn’t have been accomplished without your help. A great shout out to you all!!!

Thank you!!! 

With Gratituide,

Mexico Marine