The Guanaja Tourism Association approved the expenditure
of visitor impact fee funds to install 30 permanent reef mooring
buoys at Guanaja’s coral reef earlier this year. Thanks
to the dedication of Project Coordinator Sandra Bazley and
a host of volunteers and contributors to the project, reef
mooring buoys are now available at most popular dive sites
at this small island off the coast of Honduras.
"Buoys eliminate the need to drop anchors on our fragile
coral reefs," noted project manager Sandra Bazley.
The community pulled together to make this happen We can
all be proud of our efforts; this will protect our reefs
now and into the future.
Corals are actually living animals, encased in a calcerous
exoskeleton. The drop of an anchor can damage the slow-growing
animals, called coral polyps, and open the entire coral
head to disease. Corals have been in existence for over
400 million years and are the most biologically diverse
ecosystems on earth, rivaled only by the tropical rainforests
on land.
Guanaja’s coral reefs, together with mangroves and
sea grasses, comprise the coral reef ecosystem, the basis
for the island’s fishing and tourism economy. Keeping
the reef healthy and alive is a priority for everyone on
the island.
The creation of the Guanaja Marine Reserve is moving forward
with this mooring project being the first in a series of
planned strategies for marine conservation.
The installation of the buoys was a community event, with
volunteer divers providing assistance and local resorts
and other businesses donating boats, fuel, lodging, meals,
and supplies. REEF RELIEF was commissioned to direct the
project and provide the necessary equipment and training.
"I am very pleased to see the Guanaja Tourist Association
take such an active role in coral reef protection,"
commented REEF RELIEF Founder and Director of Marine Projects,
Craig Quirolo. Craig headed up the project with assistance
from Program Director, DeeVon Quirolo.
Local Coordination was provided be Sandra Bazley. The components
were ordered and shipped to Guanaja via Deep Reef Trading
on the Caribbean Star. Everything was stored at Posada Del
Sol, where a boat and divers were provided.
Two types of permanent moorings were installed. First the
mantas, anchor-like assemblies with a long rod, were jack
hammered into areas of rubble bottom to which the line and
float was attached. Next stainless steel U-bolts were installed
in areas of hard fossilized bottom.
A hydraulic drill was used to core out two holes and the
stainless steel U-bolt was cemented to the ocean bottom.
After allowing the cement to cure for a few days, the buoy
down line, float, through-line and picket line was attached.
The float is accomplished by slicing the individual parts
together in a manner that permits parts of it to be replaced
as they wear out.
The REEF RELIEF representatives were presented from Savanna
Bight and from professor Ruth’s Bay Islands Conservation
Association Youth program with a presentation on the coral
reef and then they learned hoe to splice and prepare buoy
lines for the project.
Students who had been certified to dive compliments of
Posada del Sol assisted in the drilling operations at the
reef. The project also involved special presentations of
the crew and guests at Bayman Bay Resort and to a room full
of citizens in Savannah Bight, during which Professor Ruth
of B.I.C.A. translated the presentations into Spanish.
Professor Ruth will also be responsible for handling the
video library that REEF RELIEF brought for the community.
They are on a variety of reef-related topics.
The mooring buoys require a regular inspection and maintenance
program to keep them in good working order. The dive operations
of Bayman Bay Resort on the north side and Posada Del Sol
Resort on the south side of the island have agreed to share
this responsibility. Lost or damaged buoys will be reported
to them for immediate replacement. Since the buoys are community
property, stealing them is a municipal offense, punishable
by fine.
REEF RELIEF has agreed to set up a buoy fund to purchase
buoy components, when needed. Contributions to the buoy
fund are tax-deductible for United States contributors.
You can sponsor a buoy for $500 U.S. Additional expenses
have resulted from the need to order more mantas than originally
anticipated and standby buoys and line are needed. Contact
the Guanaja marine reserve c/o (504) 54 44 43 or REEF RELIEF
at (305) 294-3100 Or e-mail us at reef@bellsouth.net
for further information.
The permanent buoys replace the "chokers" that
were previously used. An English/Spanish informational map/brochure
containing information on the buoys, their location, the
Guanaja Marine Reserve, the coral reef ecosystem, and tips
for reef friendly diving, boating and living is being prepared
for distribution to all residents and visitors.
The Guanaja Tourism Association extends special thanks
to the following for making this project possible: Sandra
Bazley, Craig and DeeVon Quirolo of REEF RELIEF, Julian
and Sandra Rensch, The Honduran Institute of Tourism, the
staff and management of Posada Del Sol and Bayman Island
Resorts. Deep Reef trading - Caribbean Star, roger wood,
Kevin McLain, Greg Park, Jim & Cathy Springer, Bo Bush,
Dick Munroe, Ruth Humphrey-Taylor and the B.I.C.A Young
People’s Program, Yovanny Bacca, Chris Calovini, the
students from Savannah Bight, Truman Tatum, Raymond Diez
Zapata and Sons. We couldn’t have done it without you!
