Coral Reefs Restoration in the Dominican Republic

• During this period, a total of US$285 were received via the GlobalGiving website.

• The Sea Savers DR group from Carol Morgan also supported REEF CHECK DR, during a collection trip and the installation of the PVC coral nursery structure built during the previous period.

• Reef Check DR staff participated in the Thyssen Bornemisza Academy (tba21academy.org) expedition to the Silver Banks (100 Km north of DR), during which 3 new genotypes of A. cervicornis coral were collected, and given the remoteness of this location; this can be considered a great success.

• A collection trip was completed to collect 2 different genotypes of A. cervicornis coral from Palmar de Ocoa. The collection and monitoring of these coral fragments were used as an experiment for a Notre Damme High School of Santo Domingo, led by Javier Rodriguez and school mates.

• The rope nursery that was built during the last period, was installed in La Caleta Marine Park, and corals collected form the Silver Banks, Palmar de Ocoa, and Gaspar Hernández locations. Bringing our genetic reservoir to 9 different genotypes. Samples from all genotypes will be prepared at sent to the University of Miami for DNA analysis.

• Finally, a collaboration agreement was signed between the Tropigas Foundation and Reef Check DR for the establishment of 4 new coral nursery sites around the DR, which will be built and placed in Palmar de Ocoa, Juancho, Las Galeras and Sosua during the rest of the year.

Links:

• Reef Check DR website were this project has been covered
• Blog in which details of the Silver Bank expedition were covered

• Four coral nursery structures were built using metal wire mesh; concrete blocks were used as anchors. Metal frames were covered with resin to delay rust. Heavy-duty tie raps were used to secure frames to blocks. These nurseries were placed in sandy bottom areas in 30 feet of water depth at coordinates 18°26'18.96"N, 69°41'6.18"W. Fragments were transported wrapped in wet paper towels and inside coolers. Once frames were in place, collected coral fragments from the Punta Cana coral nursery were attached to the frames using tie-raps. Some fragments (A. palmatta) collected at Fronton beach, Samana, were secured to cement “cookies”, which were then secured to the frames using tie raps.
• Four metal frames coral nurseries were built and placed in Las Terrenas (NE DR) at coordinates 19°19'38.86"N and 69°30'51.05"W, as a duplicate for La Caleta MPA nursery. This coral nursery is an initiative financed by Balcones del Atlántico Hotel (Rock Resorts), which is supporting some of the marine conservation activities of Reef Check DR. The objective of this nursery is to share coral fragments between these two locations to distribute any risks and potential damages to either one.
• One rope coral nursery was built during the training workshop conducted in Punta Cana during April 2012. Due to storms during the 2012 and later availability of coral fragments from the Punta Cana nursery, this nursery will be placed in the water at La Caleta MPA during March 2013. It is estimated that this rope nursery can hold approximately 150 A. cervicornis fragments.
• Two PVC frames nursery for A. palmata were built during January 2013, and will be placed in the water in Las Terrenas during March 2013. It is estimated that these PVC nursery can hold approximately 75 A. palmata fragments each.

• Coral Restoration in DR Progress Report (DOCX)

Report #1 (July 9-September 30, 2012)