Coral 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