tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55984982428403439152024-03-13T19:02:49.482-04:00Coral Reef Protection through Marine Debris Removal....an effort for coral reef restorationseanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06448247424930956260noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-10857077666162086562012-10-07T14:49:00.000-04:002012-10-07T15:11:03.285-04:00Marine Debris Removal 2011/2012 Project SummaryCoral Reef Protection through Marine Debris Removal in 2 Marine Protected Areas: Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas<br />
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<u>2011/2012 - Project Summary</u><br />
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October 7th, 2012<br />
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On
October 6th, 2012, the field work and outreach and education portion of this past years coral reef restoration project through the removal of marine
debris came to a close. The field work began a year ago in September 2011. The project objectives were to remove a boat wreck off of a reef known as Cayo Ron, in a marine protected area called Arrecifes de Tourmaline, and more marine debris in the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. The field work was conducted with numerous community volunteers, stakeholders, agency officials, and students from the University of Puerto Rico. Outside of the field work and in local schools and local communities, the outreach and education objectives were to build on the successes of previous educational campaigns to begin and/or enhance school-wide and municipal recycling programs, teach students and community volunteers about the importance of coral reefs economically for Puerto Rico, and to work together to protect them for generations to come by preventing more marine debris from entering our oceans. We are happy to report that all of these objectives were
accomplished.<br />
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Volunteer participation was a huge
success. A grand total of 213 people volunteered their time contributing 1385.5 hrs to protect
and restore Cabo Rojo's and Rincón’s precious coral reefs. Volunteers ranged in age from 5 to 74 and not only came from Puerto Rico, but from 7 states including California, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Florida, New York, and Maine. In addition, many of these individuals
represented various agencies, universities, and businesses. For instance, we had
individuals help us from the NOAA Restoration Center, Puerto Rico's
Department of Natural Resources, students from PRATT, the University of Puerto
Rico, and the University of Puerto Rico’s Department of Marine Sciences Student Association, the Municipality of Rincón, the Municipality of Anasco, area middle and high
schools, local fishermen, international businesses such as Ripcurl, Roxy, FCS, Nixon,
and local businesses such as Taino Divers and Monaquatics. This type of support, and
help, was what the project aimed to achieve. Every person, agency,
and business was equally valued during their participation and were all
equally as important. Thank you all for all of your help.<br />
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<u>Field Work: Cayo Ron- Arrecifes de Tourmaline - Cabo Rojo - Marine Debris Removal</u><br />
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Over the course of last year, SF Rincon worked with Monaquatics, Atlantis Diving Contractors, Reefscaping, and 50 community volunteers to remove a shipwreck off of Cayo Ron. Cayo Ron is located roughly 5 miles off Cabo Rojo on the western insular platform in the marine protected area known as Arrecifes de Tourmaline. Volunteers helped during 5 different outings to survey for marine debris, remove the debris, and restore Cayo Ron's back reef by transplanting corals that colonized a large portion of the boat hull and the rudder. In total, around 60 corals were transplanted. Recently, a trip was organized to monitor the status of the transplants and they are all doing well. Below are figures and photos of the chapter's effort at Cayo Ron. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPrs-0E2YwyQFkYFohpjpsU57KaUKWtD8TeDUxfo3Zhv_Bfl9eRMysrrVKsP0sS8MsV2yyzEecEDQK4wqYWGESh111MpmjoOhSAvLYlKIWERqlEABo5GOha87Yf9s2zVY3OmFFqgzbdS9/s1600/Cayo+Ron+Surveys+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPrs-0E2YwyQFkYFohpjpsU57KaUKWtD8TeDUxfo3Zhv_Bfl9eRMysrrVKsP0sS8MsV2yyzEecEDQK4wqYWGESh111MpmjoOhSAvLYlKIWERqlEABo5GOha87Yf9s2zVY3OmFFqgzbdS9/s640/Cayo+Ron+Surveys+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 survey tracks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXT1d8onuLYXMTie2tZDaK_Hbjf7ezjoqEQ3JqNX3Oy4ciaZdJ9Emv60IidFZFjo4c6zevzCfmIog1f0nWLY4_6GYQtssJmldjdG98zjrV5GnXPOC7Jlto7uQs3GWs4wZTLWndNj7VS8N/s1600/Cayo+Ron+Debris+Final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXT1d8onuLYXMTie2tZDaK_Hbjf7ezjoqEQ3JqNX3Oy4ciaZdJ9Emv60IidFZFjo4c6zevzCfmIog1f0nWLY4_6GYQtssJmldjdG98zjrV5GnXPOC7Jlto7uQs3GWs4wZTLWndNj7VS8N/s640/Cayo+Ron+Debris+Final.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the vessel associated shipwreck debris including renditions of the size and location of the boat hull and rudder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlD0U6__GKWNiYq9e9gOL9MwEbp3-gBNYT2_IEiaAlIQwQlXCOsHfJX4E66VTLTTiHOSFwi7TNWlO2yFizi2ih3oktQgdO4mYXqMPDbvBY3u-GwbFd8k_6V8sPcpwCv96ZpKKqyrhXa_O/s1600/Cayo+Ron+3d_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlD0U6__GKWNiYq9e9gOL9MwEbp3-gBNYT2_IEiaAlIQwQlXCOsHfJX4E66VTLTTiHOSFwi7TNWlO2yFizi2ih3oktQgdO4mYXqMPDbvBY3u-GwbFd8k_6V8sPcpwCv96ZpKKqyrhXa_O/s640/Cayo+Ron+3d_6.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The debris field at Cayo Ron was concentrated on the northeastern back reef and consisted of an area roughly 3.2 acres in size. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXO5l4QXg-XhcnGIpiRA_2o6f8jvn0mrk0seohqI0fIDhu6vk_BoiZQeWl7_dE41-nCf0Gj7fOeHCrSHo8CE3bIdKHAZbAY4vqa7bFJpsy_R1-8fzPM9XceeeTOBuxF1ioC_SouI0dd_M/s1600/Boat_Hull_schematic_with_corals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXO5l4QXg-XhcnGIpiRA_2o6f8jvn0mrk0seohqI0fIDhu6vk_BoiZQeWl7_dE41-nCf0Gj7fOeHCrSHo8CE3bIdKHAZbAY4vqa7bFJpsy_R1-8fzPM9XceeeTOBuxF1ioC_SouI0dd_M/s640/Boat_Hull_schematic_with_corals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boat hull was calculated to be roughly 57.8m^2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutEdeK7nyLquq5Nr-XpR_-cBdSxg3H_zuAC8avpHkc1jesCOlt1Sed-wM3Dm1csY9RmYfzZWotNK-59-w2XAngANGhKC76N0n8BRoH1ErtPSVq1pAM5SHhNSzn8nb-LW5rMiz_Qmxz26a/s1600/rudder_schematic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutEdeK7nyLquq5Nr-XpR_-cBdSxg3H_zuAC8avpHkc1jesCOlt1Sed-wM3Dm1csY9RmYfzZWotNK-59-w2XAngANGhKC76N0n8BRoH1ErtPSVq1pAM5SHhNSzn8nb-LW5rMiz_Qmxz26a/s640/rudder_schematic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rudder was calculated to be roughly 6m^2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJji2xMms-ew5N0rdJNrOkzdrWZ6CLvg0TOel4QA4DqrVCth4T2UhZG9XCk6U2t3NfWp9RlQSyV_YwgxCkYb1fh2aYSCNMw02TmIqNh20iJnuHEQxT6SHWKXPzIr26WWJ__7SgQh0qKr3/s1600/coral_transplant_location_final+copy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJji2xMms-ew5N0rdJNrOkzdrWZ6CLvg0TOel4QA4DqrVCth4T2UhZG9XCk6U2t3NfWp9RlQSyV_YwgxCkYb1fh2aYSCNMw02TmIqNh20iJnuHEQxT6SHWKXPzIr26WWJ__7SgQh0qKr3/s640/coral_transplant_location_final+copy+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coral transplants are doing excellent after a year of growth on suitable substrate. The corals were transplanted off of the boat hull and rudder which was on the reef since the early 90's some officials think. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeXzzgPoiwrCYGx77imObDQT9RHFVQWC4w0Awhfo9ENh0-tsPA65eDk8pgePGRsteggdw9gC_y-4vnXN6HpZMU50iXpGx82tG6OO9uqZ5itlKttdnNAsPrFLrr57xp999ZIFUWZSOhLjf/s1600/before+and+after+2011+to+2012+starboard+stern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeXzzgPoiwrCYGx77imObDQT9RHFVQWC4w0Awhfo9ENh0-tsPA65eDk8pgePGRsteggdw9gC_y-4vnXN6HpZMU50iXpGx82tG6OO9uqZ5itlKttdnNAsPrFLrr57xp999ZIFUWZSOhLjf/s640/before+and+after+2011+to+2012+starboard+stern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a before and after photo sequence looking at the starboard stern of the boat hull. It will take many years for the newly opened substrate to be colonized but the process has certainly begun. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiM0PfA2fTRl8aiSxt9ViiFyriPX3SuLM9-1pvyI38pp-REtzPbFQcV4J2-WZlQOCAXVXlVXaBHaN6ZzXE-PctZVvcH8CDcF8DaFu_lS_T2O0Tr3tv9ObSUHWYQ4wzUnWWp4Q1A1XIqhq/s1600/before+and+after+2011+to+2012+stern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiM0PfA2fTRl8aiSxt9ViiFyriPX3SuLM9-1pvyI38pp-REtzPbFQcV4J2-WZlQOCAXVXlVXaBHaN6ZzXE-PctZVvcH8CDcF8DaFu_lS_T2O0Tr3tv9ObSUHWYQ4wzUnWWp4Q1A1XIqhq/s640/before+and+after+2011+to+2012+stern.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a before and after photo sequence looking from the stern towards the bow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8wbYlU3lLhuqPVOtfrXUQwtkBGAGe8tbNHA1dphF8Mq8vtwjUe87yCu7LlvGexRIhXdE2E9xLw1mm0V-lRJ_JhKe5KANo1fZa0ipMXMvDjxzmkJXzZSnZNoA3XsKdotfLtvos1LuxfWI/s1600/before+and+after+2011+to+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8wbYlU3lLhuqPVOtfrXUQwtkBGAGe8tbNHA1dphF8Mq8vtwjUe87yCu7LlvGexRIhXdE2E9xLw1mm0V-lRJ_JhKe5KANo1fZa0ipMXMvDjxzmkJXzZSnZNoA3XsKdotfLtvos1LuxfWI/s640/before+and+after+2011+to+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sequence shows the starboard stern in a different perspective. The photo taken on 9.2.2011 was taken a bit deeper than the photo taken on 9.12.2012 allowing for more soft corals to appear in the frame. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO8mzf7enbnbpx4HS7FaF8Ar334XLn6vDCYPzHoxQBpGpRPaHWh8BWGiExA32y0R9cnEK-eFKwfQWBcPmNQwFteot6zfBkXJBQR_BcrSiWy7ANyWlb05tRjIKpMManJOOK7s2lVFlLGln/s1600/day4_DSC00108_adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO8mzf7enbnbpx4HS7FaF8Ar334XLn6vDCYPzHoxQBpGpRPaHWh8BWGiExA32y0R9cnEK-eFKwfQWBcPmNQwFteot6zfBkXJBQR_BcrSiWy7ANyWlb05tRjIKpMManJOOK7s2lVFlLGln/s640/day4_DSC00108_adjusted.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Individuals from Atlantis Diving Contractos, Reefscaping, NOAA's restoration center, and volunteers celebrate after removing the boat hull</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another group shot of volunteers happy and tired after a hard day's work at Cayo Ron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students from UPRM enjoyed being a part of the restoration effort</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the crystal clear Caribbean waters after finishing the first day at Cayo Ron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers lift out large slabs that DRNA transported to a landfill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy87Lm-lHUGUM_sz8_AooPleclHvaoituufWnxJntLc6lb_B-EEpr-EyVxN3Qgon3fjLoTtzJ2Fgru_Xrjk-Dqj6leWc-J1o9XEY_a9THIg14KUcz-tfLA4rj_Nd_5Kx-yXN_NNcGezxZ/s1600/day4_me_slab_adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy87Lm-lHUGUM_sz8_AooPleclHvaoituufWnxJntLc6lb_B-EEpr-EyVxN3Qgon3fjLoTtzJ2Fgru_Xrjk-Dqj6leWc-J1o9XEY_a9THIg14KUcz-tfLA4rj_Nd_5Kx-yXN_NNcGezxZ/s640/day4_me_slab_adjusted.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo gives a nice perspective of the size of the some of the boat slabs that were strewn across the reef at Cayo Ron. This was actually not even close to the biggest one we removed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U1dP0bcO7fqp54GNozLe0U2ppYHPr_tqUB55vOpijdF0vmQ83ZWrZnO-giIqtJx0eU7qIgMBLv0hFXdAGcoSdSdDaDu4s0UmYzuRIXRWsthSTcTy0Um65XlLIxEViUvJ65EscsPy3ptS/s1600/underwater+chainsaw+compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U1dP0bcO7fqp54GNozLe0U2ppYHPr_tqUB55vOpijdF0vmQ83ZWrZnO-giIqtJx0eU7qIgMBLv0hFXdAGcoSdSdDaDu4s0UmYzuRIXRWsthSTcTy0Um65XlLIxEViUvJ65EscsPy3ptS/s640/underwater+chainsaw+compressed.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The commercial diving crew with Atlantis Diving Contractors was happy to help out with this project. They commented on how beautiful a site it was to work at and was a nice change to the murky waters that most of their jobs are associated with. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u>Field Work: Tres Palmas - Reserva Marina Tres Palmas - Rincon - Marine Debris Removal</u><br />
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Project coordinators conducted 10 boat days in the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and adjacent areas to remove 75 tires and copious amounts of other types of marine debris such as boat debris, cable, pipes, clothing, etc. Most debris items were discovered in decreased frequency since the last project in 2009/2010 except for boat debris. This is great news and it is proof that the nearshore reef environments along Rincon's coastline are getting cleaner. This is not only beneficial for tourism and the local economy but most importantly for the endangered species such as corals and sea turtles that live amongst these reefs. Below are figures depicting the marine debris removal effort for 2011/2012. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQHVRx6QtRbNv5M8Fq3evv_ZjLOUeKvcV38ROwTr_N4CWcj-ncCFNgROh2Er2EXP8p3YV9hfarC3j1GXkUJXD7xPUkW_CA5l4aJxWeTInhwEV25UsE6k7_LVwsxJyRGOmlCuWqd0MA_AN/s1600/Survey+Tracks+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQHVRx6QtRbNv5M8Fq3evv_ZjLOUeKvcV38ROwTr_N4CWcj-ncCFNgROh2Er2EXP8p3YV9hfarC3j1GXkUJXD7xPUkW_CA5l4aJxWeTInhwEV25UsE6k7_LVwsxJyRGOmlCuWqd0MA_AN/s640/Survey+Tracks+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Using a handheld GPS device, the daily survey boat tracks were logged to depict the area monitored in Rincon.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsnIdxP-4aMAGFAj0a3Sbib8zzd7VEyFhppPzPR6M-R4w6sWDC_h-JZib8ZSQhujoq5p5i6zl3rtpVpOmbEscuWpMHdWGZUBkobsJqotuebYhHNSdWBq_VzTZtVUWEGgPRn4NymoMdA4H/s1600/Rincon+Debris+all+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsnIdxP-4aMAGFAj0a3Sbib8zzd7VEyFhppPzPR6M-R4w6sWDC_h-JZib8ZSQhujoq5p5i6zl3rtpVpOmbEscuWpMHdWGZUBkobsJqotuebYhHNSdWBq_VzTZtVUWEGgPRn4NymoMdA4H/s640/Rincon+Debris+all+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Debris removed ranged from tires, corals smothered by debris
(clothing, rope, fishing line), blocks, extensive areas of cable and
rope, pipes, trash patches, and significant amounts of derelict boat debris.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTMp2XixYNgmqFlczEJRkLzyT2UIbZvnmwT2OZAIYyrnIyRARJlAWRccnNKnjcUoO1AlX8G4V_jkANY19RvFOB6wGxgwlINUI19fWq7PNAg2bRNTIQRrCFG-octVukir_DfrEeYqreHgX/s1600/Rincon+Debris+Tires+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTMp2XixYNgmqFlczEJRkLzyT2UIbZvnmwT2OZAIYyrnIyRARJlAWRccnNKnjcUoO1AlX8G4V_jkANY19RvFOB6wGxgwlINUI19fWq7PNAg2bRNTIQRrCFG-octVukir_DfrEeYqreHgX/s640/Rincon+Debris+Tires+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tires were significantly aggregated along the nearshore shelf
stretching from Calle Surf to the Black Eagle Marina. Other tires, in
decreased frequency, were discovered near Steps beach and north to
Marias beach. We removed 75 tires during this project (550 since 2008). Tires were discovered in decreased frequency since the last project. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOUYi4xMw4k7sqSaBowCU9XcMEfE1XPkqVOa55JPPp9Yhtspb8Q2uabVV1b61eb3V52ODdndU5G-ObutZoSHuxlEk-Sb7f2aYEWjimXl22sEYcqu-4WkfNnHsLKg1YEXVAX9KoUXQixv2/s1600/Rincon+Debris+boat+debris+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOUYi4xMw4k7sqSaBowCU9XcMEfE1XPkqVOa55JPPp9Yhtspb8Q2uabVV1b61eb3V52ODdndU5G-ObutZoSHuxlEk-Sb7f2aYEWjimXl22sEYcqu-4WkfNnHsLKg1YEXVAX9KoUXQixv2/s640/Rincon+Debris+boat+debris+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat debris was discovered in increased frequency since the last project. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRemUknMcDwOIfUL7ro0OkseAIHPCr9rDD53JWD1-0qBpm45L6sjroMoMnlYXlk_mrEkkHm8EeQZFojoCUFq4ct3NGLhKHwVsIhBEmFcGJdlPpAiKWFE0aPcNwTH4iie-ji4yNCofdqJFu/s1600/Rincon+Debris+cable+pipe+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRemUknMcDwOIfUL7ro0OkseAIHPCr9rDD53JWD1-0qBpm45L6sjroMoMnlYXlk_mrEkkHm8EeQZFojoCUFq4ct3NGLhKHwVsIhBEmFcGJdlPpAiKWFE0aPcNwTH4iie-ji4yNCofdqJFu/s640/Rincon+Debris+cable+pipe+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cable, rope, and pipes were discovered in decreased frequency since the last project. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zhNYcUvWpsk3ogqi7A2lWmF4Vm5HUvBYYU71wc0EJwvg6vZFKWnm1rEL-FvRhyJVQYa20JHvGM6_oRYkxMHKYU2MxsJy2j7qbHEVL5z8BMV8uuZ4sSs80_OCqHaoMEO8ILwA3DcIFp6R/s1600/Rincon+Debris+clothing_block_battery+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zhNYcUvWpsk3ogqi7A2lWmF4Vm5HUvBYYU71wc0EJwvg6vZFKWnm1rEL-FvRhyJVQYa20JHvGM6_oRYkxMHKYU2MxsJy2j7qbHEVL5z8BMV8uuZ4sSs80_OCqHaoMEO8ILwA3DcIFp6R/s640/Rincon+Debris+clothing_block_battery+final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothing and plastic were discovered in decreased frequency since the last project. Blocks were only discovered near the Black Eagle Marina. There was only one boat battery discovered. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The
amount of volunteer effort we had in Rincon allowed project orchestrators, Captain Edwin
Pauco’ Font a local Rincoeño fisherman and myself (Wessley Merten) a
marine science graduate student from the University of Puerto Rico's
Department of Marine Sciences, to expand outside of the marine reserve
in search of more marine debris. Tow-boarding
and swimming were the principle methods used to locate the debris. Nearly two times the area of the Reserva Marine Tres Palmas (~825,558 <span style="font-size: 78%;">m</span>2)
was monitored and covered. During the arduous endeavor many objects
were found and removed with the help of the volunteers.
We encourage you to browse through the project’s blog archive to the
date that you helped to find your photo(s). Some of the best volunteer photos are including below. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzjDNKxRGNnKWlX0lJ6so20XbHcefxuQfYWVGM7JxKtxHRwmiOdxPtOlyOU7RBViAq2GAHwY6FalPjUDUjgf9AYgnFmZUBQ-X_h8a9MhTEdQoJ3QghpS6eMvnvFTV99HJQfkW9SqgzBKl/s1600/reef_restoration_banner+copy+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzjDNKxRGNnKWlX0lJ6so20XbHcefxuQfYWVGM7JxKtxHRwmiOdxPtOlyOU7RBViAq2GAHwY6FalPjUDUjgf9AYgnFmZUBQ-X_h8a9MhTEdQoJ3QghpS6eMvnvFTV99HJQfkW9SqgzBKl/s640/reef_restoration_banner+copy+15.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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The images
above summarize the volunteer debris removal effort. Each item was
removed by one of the individuals that helped throughout this
project. Every item removed, including tires, clothing, rope, etc.,
were removed with a sense of satisfication knowing that the effort would
help improve the health and quality of the reef. But, oftentimes when
these items were found, along with miscellaneous objects such as car
batteries, engine blocks, oil cans, gas cans, chairs, stuffed animals,
and large pvc pipes feelings of dismay and sadness struck the volunteers
and project coordinators. It was at these times that it was
undoubtedly apparent that outreach and education towards increased reef
awareness and protection needs to be a top priority in area schools and
throughout the communities in order to to conserve the viability of
nearshore reef ecosystems around Puerto Rico.<br />
<br />
<u>Outreach and Education - Marine Debris Prevention </u><br />
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In
effort to protect the future health and quality of the reefs in Cabo Rojo and Rincón,
multi-media presentations were given to local students about the
severity of the problem of marine debris in our oceans and how it relates to ocean environments around Puerto Rico. We worked in two different schools along the west coast of Puerto Rico, Jorge Seda Crespo in Rincon, and MAS Intergrated School in Anasco. In total, over 600 students were exposed to this project through in-school presentation and outreach activities. This effort
wouldn’t have been made possible without the help of each school's
administration, and teachers, for supporting this portion of
the project and we are very grateful for your help.<br />
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Outreach activities included installing recycling bins at two beaches in Rincon. We are happy to report that this pilot project, that is, attempting to start a recycling effort at beaches in Rincon, is working. According to the Director of Recycling and Public Works in Rincon, 85% of the materials being put in the containers at Steps Beach are clean and ready to be recycled. The Director thinks that this is due in part to the cooperation of a local business at Steps beach, Steps Quick Lunch, who is constantly reminding his customers to recycle their materials and make sure the materials are clean. The other containers we installed at the marina are returning 50% clean materials with 50% consisting of trash. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim and Steve install recycling bins on area beaches</td></tr>
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Another outreach activity was done to paint the chapter's new marine debris container and recycling bins that were donated to area businesses. The marine debris container was highly successful in keeping the debris we removed from the ocean organized and clean until we could schedule a pickup. The containers we donated to local businesses are being used, but at times not always for recycling. This is a problem that we will address in future projects. The last community based outreach event was done to restore Rincon's recycling center to increase the amount of people in the community recycling. Signs were put up on major roads to direct traffic to the recycling center and a beautiful ocean mural was painted at the center to remind citizens of what we are protecting when we recycle. It also makes the trip to the recycling center more enjoyable knowing that you will get to admire the beautiful art. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art students from PRATT university, and MASIS, come together to paint our bins<br />
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Volunteers from PRATT University, AECiMa, and SF Rincon restore Rincon's recycling center </td></tr>
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In the two schools that we worked in, we purchased recycling containers from <a href="http://www.amecpr.com/" target="_blank">AMEC PR</a>, and began and/or enhanced the school's recycling program. To begin each program, we had an activity at each school to paint their containers and then distribute them in the classrooms to initiate the program. Each event was a huge success and the students really enjoyed personalizing their recycling bins. Both schools received 4 big (95 gallon) containers, 30 small (14 gallon) containers, and a recycling corral for their parking lot. The big bins were placed in the corral so the municipality could service their materials and all the little bins were used in each classroom. Two bins were given to each classroom. To spice things up, we charted the amount of materials that were being recycled and created a competition amongst homerooms to see which classrooms could recycle the most through the year. The winning class won cool prizes from the surf industry including Ripcurl, Roxy, FCS, and Nixon, and a pizza party. Below are photos from this effort. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq67w0wtK_aTSn7a5QAbuKrNdF6Cj_Vj4BDXKk9GPdhkjsqm5k3hC2j4hOJ7uLvb4GWwKalY1tEw82iKYULC50gjgrctMRQO3M7-gd8OSxGMQaZ-LS0CT5YfuJ2fnf_e0jI6JQFoc7KJz9/s1600/reef_restoration_banner+copy_10+copy+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq67w0wtK_aTSn7a5QAbuKrNdF6Cj_Vj4BDXKk9GPdhkjsqm5k3hC2j4hOJ7uLvb4GWwKalY1tEw82iKYULC50gjgrctMRQO3M7-gd8OSxGMQaZ-LS0CT5YfuJ2fnf_e0jI6JQFoc7KJz9/s640/reef_restoration_banner+copy_10+copy+resized.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MASIS Recycling Program opening event</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jorge Seda Crespo Recycling Program opening event</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amount recycled between schools (#'s represent amount of full 95 gallon containers recycled)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jorge Seda Crespo Pizza Party</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MASIS Pizza Party</td></tr>
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Lastly, for Earth Day 2012, St. Johns School in San Juan, invited myself over to give a presentation based on the reef restoration project and the research I'm doing as a <a href="http://www.dolphintaggingpr.com/" target="_blank">graduate student</a>. The students loved the presentation and I was pleased to see the school's enthusiasm with recycling, conservation, and activism. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth Day Presentation April 2012</td></tr>
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The outreach component of this project will culminate in the short documentary about the project and the efforts we took in local schools to teach and inform students to prevent marine debris from entering our oceans. This documentary will be finished in a few months and we hope it will ignite the passion of other schools in the area to join us in our fight to protect Puerto Rico's coral reefs. <a href="http://youtu.be/deRkBSn-u0o" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see a prelude to this documentary in the form of an educational trailer. <br />
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To
conclude, this was another successful community based reef restoration project that
the Surfrider Foundation Rincón hopes to expand upon in the future. We have already monitored other areas along the west coast, including La Parguera, Isla Desecheo, and Shacks reef for marine debris and began the dialogue with different schools in hopes that we can continue this work in the 2013. We are very grateful for the help of all the volunteers, contractors, schools, and agencies that helped make this project a huge success. Thanks for all of your support, time, and dedication to this amazing cause.<br />
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(All photos and figures: W.Merten) <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Posted by Wessley Merten</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Marine Science Graduate Student</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">University of Puerto Rico</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Department of Marine Sciences</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8Rincón, Puerto Rico18.3075437 -67.26095218.2472442 -67.339916 18.3678432 -67.181988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-6602874786066646812012-05-19T17:28:00.000-04:002012-05-19T17:28:08.136-04:00St. John's School Excells in Program "Eco-Escuela"St. John's School in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is leading the charge in the program "Eco-Escuela" by reducing the amount of solid waste their school creates by purchasing and installing 3 solid-waste reducing super cool water fountains! Wilma Meloen explained to the chapter that the "acquisition and installation of these water fountains was only achieved through the combined effort of many teachers, parents, and students operating under their program called ''Project H20,'' which is a program designed to raise awareness about solid waste reduction." Mrs. Meloen along with the rest of the St. John's faculty, staff, students, and parents are all working together as a team to reduce their schools footprint on the environment and they are doing an excellent job. It is initiatives like these that supports their efforts in becoming a green school under the program ''Eco-Escuela.'' Congratulations St. Johns School and thanks for the invitation to participate in your schools Earth Week!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0djsYMt8aZrdy8Bh_c91Cl7egg6-4qcg8E0gnuZJVDYg_H__4CdpLTQB8WWxTOdoV1wNQD7Gia4PLnfWgTnvBMPgWQ-sG3s24dxiuE-SZSkMQk5tUhIhkmDyJ0aQXukgpOWoQO0_encP/s1600/IMAG0899+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0djsYMt8aZrdy8Bh_c91Cl7egg6-4qcg8E0gnuZJVDYg_H__4CdpLTQB8WWxTOdoV1wNQD7Gia4PLnfWgTnvBMPgWQ-sG3s24dxiuE-SZSkMQk5tUhIhkmDyJ0aQXukgpOWoQO0_encP/s640/IMAG0899+copy.jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottles on the strings were collected by the science club during the spring semester and strung up to represent how much solid waste their school could reduce by not consuming single-use plastic water bottles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of three new solid-waste reducing super cool water fountains recently installed at St. John's School. Students can simply drink from the spout or fill and refill their reusable water bottles as they desire. </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7San Juan, Puerto Rico18.4663338 -66.105721718.3458458 -66.2636502 18.586821800000003 -65.9477932tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-17232999702354477722012-05-19T15:42:00.000-04:002012-05-20T08:52:05.333-04:00SF Recycling Program Congratulates Winning Classes with Prizes and Pizza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The outreach and education component of this years reef restoration project came to a close this past week after the chapter held its final pizza party for the class that recycled the most in their school-wide recycling program. The two schools that participated in the chapter's outreach and education program associated with this <a href="http://www.trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-marine-debris-removal-project-is.html" target="_blank">project </a>were MAS Integrated School in Anasco and Jorge Seda Crespo in Rincon. Recycling totals for the two schools can be seen by <a href="http://trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2012/05/school-wide-recycling-programs-were.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. The outreach and education program began when students were exposed to the growing problem of marine debris in the ocean through <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRkBSn-u0o" target="_blank">educational and interactive presentations</a> given by the chapter beginning back in <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/%20http://www.trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2011/11/coral-reef-seminars-begin-at-west-coast.html" target="_blank">October</a>. Then, the chapter invested $1,000 in each school's recycling program (with funding from NOAA) in the form of recycling bins, purchased from AMEC PR, to be used in the schools. Prior to beginning the recycling programs in January, the students painted the containers with sea creatures that are threatened by marine debris to remind the students why it is important to recycle. After those events, the chapter coordinated the pickup of the materials on a weekly basis with each schools municipality, and just to change things up, the chapter had each school compete between homerooms to see which class could not only recycle the most but also record how much they recycled. As an incentive for their efforts, the chapter reached out to companies in the surf industry such as <a href="http://www.trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-partners-thanks.html" target="_blank">Rip Curl, Roxy, FCS, and Nixon</a>, to get prizes for the class(es)/individuals that excelled in the program, recycled the most, and recorded accurate data. These companies fully supported our goal of stimulating an inner conservation ethic amongst the students and were happy to reward them for their efforts with their great products.<br />
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The chapter is very pleased to report that the programs were a great success and we hope to implement more programs like these in other schools along the west coast and around Puerto Rico. Below are photos from the pizza parties held for each winning class during the last two weeks of the semester. The chapter would like to thank each school for their participation in this outreach and education program, Rip Curl, Roxy, FCS, Nixon, Oneway boardshop, and volunteers that contributed their time to help make the educational component for this year's marine debris removal and prevention program a great success. Thanks! <br />
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If your school is interested in participating in this type of program for the academic year of 2012/2013 please contact the chapter at salvatrespalmas@yahoo.com<br />
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<br />
Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Rincón, Puerto Rico18.3075437 -67.26095218.2472442 -67.339916 18.3678432 -67.181988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-72087464578393746562012-05-18T17:33:00.000-04:002012-05-18T17:33:21.789-04:00School-Wide Recycling Programs were a Great Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The final tally is in! Between both MASIS in Anasco and Jorge Seda
Crespo in Rincon the schools have combined to recycle 80 (95 gallon)
full containers of plastic and 39.75 (95 gallon) full containers of
aluminum. Check out the winning classes below! <br />
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<b>MASIS</b> <b>Jorge Seda Crespo</b><br />
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<b>Best All Around: Class #10 </b> <b>Best All Around: Class #8</b><br />
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Most Plastic: Class #10 Most Plastic: Class #8<br />
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Most Aluminum: Class #9 Most Aluminum: Class #8<br />
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Most Plastic Counted: Class #10 Most Plastic Counted: Class #8<br />
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Most Aluminum Counted: Class #9 Most Aluminum Counted: Class #8 <br />
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If we were to assume that single-use plastics were the only material
being recycled in the schools, and the fact that a single-use plastic
bottle measures ~8.5", and that 350 single-use plastic bottles fill a 95
gallon container then MASIS has recycled (33 x 350 = 115,500 bottles)
and JSC has recycled (47 x 350 = 16450 bottles). When we take the
amount of bottles recycled for each school and multiple it by the length
of a single bottle we get the length of the "bottle-string" the school
is compiling and heading on an adventure around the island! The MASIS
bottle-string = 2.49 km and the JSC bottle-string = 3.55 km. See the
progress of each bottle-string in the image below. Click on the image
for a larger view.<br />
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Detailed counts per class are seen below. </div>
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Congratulations to the winning classes! This is truly an amazing effort that should be replicated at other schools around the island. <br />
<br />
Contact
Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more
information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine
debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Rincón, Puerto Rico18.3075437 -67.26095218.2472442 -67.339916 18.3678432 -67.181988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-7717587927710971392012-04-18T21:51:00.002-04:002012-04-18T22:40:52.699-04:00Day 5; 500 tires and countingOn Friday, April 13th, 2012, the Surfrider Foundation Rincon conducted two reef restoration outings in the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. The first was in the morning when SF Rincon volunteer extraordinar, Angela Haynie, and her friend, Liz Muse, helped remove the 500th and 501st tire from the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. The first tire was removed back in 2008. Thanks so much girls!!! <br />
<br />
In the afternoon, Sara Caez and her friend Sandra Trujillo, San Juan locals, helped removed a lot of debris too. They loved the towboarding! Thanks for making the drive over from SJ to participate!!! <br />
<br />
We removed 7 tires, a piece of a yola, clothing, and 2 baskets full of plastic and other miscellaneous debris.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWG9IYPydxgihRVSbL8giDn-2AJE8EE4D_n3hZaxel_S_jrJoxMPg6BCD-MVuh6xYxW80V2VoI7dZWuy8_aGWJDPJAI55CesKFVHoS5O_R4BypCkk_BDG_SJaKZICMF_BTQjBcg53gIk/s1600/angela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMWG9IYPydxgihRVSbL8giDn-2AJE8EE4D_n3hZaxel_S_jrJoxMPg6BCD-MVuh6xYxW80V2VoI7dZWuy8_aGWJDPJAI55CesKFVHoS5O_R4BypCkk_BDG_SJaKZICMF_BTQjBcg53gIk/s640/angela.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angela amped after a nice towboard over the reef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKXuu1Ann7gapB1qklwHwwtud1Qq6m_zF3GUP5-sJ2skD2WwafP_Xvxf9CUsz48j4W0Pqu9T1TNXKbVyb7YI6Jdmeb9KYvbtU7bZ14TtORY8zq-G0L8JZjkII5qHvoirE5OnXKlcHdluG/s1600/liz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKXuu1Ann7gapB1qklwHwwtud1Qq6m_zF3GUP5-sJ2skD2WwafP_Xvxf9CUsz48j4W0Pqu9T1TNXKbVyb7YI6Jdmeb9KYvbtU7bZ14TtORY8zq-G0L8JZjkII5qHvoirE5OnXKlcHdluG/s640/liz.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz thrilled to be a part of a great cause</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMW80fNi-oyXTuclFwMgX_otNOJSZPGByiwE3CCI7ezz9_qtkGGPpn2s9xAffTu7R5SsS_HsI9PrmqwcISD5BZSdqeoNs0tawV6aZ8AsvGl1ACf46IvWgUSkBQ1kH67Pb90-fculsuOM3/s1600/sara+and+sandra+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMW80fNi-oyXTuclFwMgX_otNOJSZPGByiwE3CCI7ezz9_qtkGGPpn2s9xAffTu7R5SsS_HsI9PrmqwcISD5BZSdqeoNs0tawV6aZ8AsvGl1ACf46IvWgUSkBQ1kH67Pb90-fculsuOM3/s640/sara+and+sandra+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandra and Sara made the drive over from SJ to enjoy some fun in the sun. Thanks girls!!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIxHyzMRrMWgFQ2jwSkPJLtSt-A-YzIjNLINo2xJNvHGVO6UOx9tGo0aU2TB6nO9rmMeQfZPGRz93Ei-pAeAZhpQRyroCptovIpOTmBR8MI9T9G39ElOrKFbioOpHHWGLOTvMoD_ruKQ9/s1600/sara+and+sandra.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIxHyzMRrMWgFQ2jwSkPJLtSt-A-YzIjNLINo2xJNvHGVO6UOx9tGo0aU2TB6nO9rmMeQfZPGRz93Ei-pAeAZhpQRyroCptovIpOTmBR8MI9T9G39ElOrKFbioOpHHWGLOTvMoD_ruKQ9/s640/sara+and+sandra.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara enjoying underwater flight</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxLOAsPNNBgsBeQsPBB33wXH30c1ICBBRTg8L0vEBpntWsnBRjopyErBnicmrQXghQT74IFcGiCRbrY3C_aTgzSibM9yVWZL6SjkakH_GO6gcLMItTkUr7PS09RcbZ8RnfSTwqoG6c9Bx/s1600/school+of+tangs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxLOAsPNNBgsBeQsPBB33wXH30c1ICBBRTg8L0vEBpntWsnBRjopyErBnicmrQXghQT74IFcGiCRbrY3C_aTgzSibM9yVWZL6SjkakH_GO6gcLMItTkUr7PS09RcbZ8RnfSTwqoG6c9Bx/s640/school+of+tangs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A healthy school of tangs cleanses the reef of algae</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CfEnWNnMnJFMy9zT7c0UPXi2WdGTBlsqjuFvgRTFwtRsHaF6anonV97X83FI9fxy-kmCyxd9CZyPvSDJnmn43i5S-BbHQO2RtL2Rf45C9Cmp7RlmoASwoT0ZN88BjgpUGf5kWsjnTZa9/s1600/survey+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CfEnWNnMnJFMy9zT7c0UPXi2WdGTBlsqjuFvgRTFwtRsHaF6anonV97X83FI9fxy-kmCyxd9CZyPvSDJnmn43i5S-BbHQO2RtL2Rf45C9Cmp7RlmoASwoT0ZN88BjgpUGf5kWsjnTZa9/s640/survey+track.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIE4QzlDTnabjvo3N2oTFdsg9hzUXItw-ndbgWjiQ435Mzhe93a0qXqifzkvzQvZXXkIkMKP76Tkuy1hcLRgWMyI2UEIIBDcqK7Hvn82-uDDwb87wmaVp5ItQGfCwlEOZ1GizkmDDBM4a/s1600/debris+4_13_12.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIE4QzlDTnabjvo3N2oTFdsg9hzUXItw-ndbgWjiQ435Mzhe93a0qXqifzkvzQvZXXkIkMKP76Tkuy1hcLRgWMyI2UEIIBDcqK7Hvn82-uDDwb87wmaVp5ItQGfCwlEOZ1GizkmDDBM4a/s640/debris+4_13_12.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between the morning and evening session both crews amounted to removing 7 tires, a piece of a boat hull, a basket full of clothing, and two basket fulls of plastic debris. The reef is looking great!!</td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-15709759002900472652012-03-28T22:46:00.001-04:002012-03-28T22:46:21.206-04:00Recycling Tally up to March 27th 2012The second tally is in! Between both MASIS in Anasco and Jorge Seda
Crespo in Rincon the schools have combined to recycle 40 (95 gallon)
full containers of plastic and 4 (95 gallon) full containers of
aluminum. Check out the leader board below the image! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBD1bI0-F22g1lPQyj7mZ6iLTm_WQkURxIDBkrOQxbyxWXLgZj0k4E5sG61J3BDnI-gPTwNgO6KCvmJ8QW3j4znEFEiFhBeW1Xj1-pnBk4Y1OkU9Hz4OnWzqO_sH0mCQfKukqbk6udOPdb/s1600/total+between+schools+copy+2nd+tally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBD1bI0-F22g1lPQyj7mZ6iLTm_WQkURxIDBkrOQxbyxWXLgZj0k4E5sG61J3BDnI-gPTwNgO6KCvmJ8QW3j4znEFEiFhBeW1Xj1-pnBk4Y1OkU9Hz4OnWzqO_sH0mCQfKukqbk6udOPdb/s1600/total+between+schools+copy+2nd+tally.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>MASIS</b> <b>Jorge Seda Crespo</b><br />
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<b>Best All Around: Class #2 </b> <b>Best All Around: Class #8</b><br />
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Most Plastic: Class #12 Most Plastic: Class #8<br />
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Most Aluminum: multi-class tie Most Aluminum: Class #8<br />
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Most Plastic Counted: Class #2 Most Plastic Counted: Class #8<br />
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Most Aluminum Counted: Class #2 Most Aluminum Counted: Class #8 <br />
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If we were to assume that single-use plastics were the only material
being recycled in the schools, and the fact that a single-use plastic
bottle measures ~8.5", and that 350 single-use plastic bottles fill a 95
gallon container then MASIS has recycled (22 x 350 = 7700 bottles)
and JSC has recycled (18 x 350 = 6300 bottles). When we take the
amount of bottles recycled for each school and multiple it by the length
of a single bottle we get the length of the "bottle-string" the school
is compiling and heading on an adventure around the island! The MASIS
bottle-string = 1.66 km and the JSC bottle-string = 1.36 km. See the
progress of each bottle-string in the image below. Click on the image
for a larger view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeogv9n1x4BHfq2TJajiQGkyRPI6SlycajusSRyTPnbUEVw4TPA2g3A-XpxMEohpAYVJPA6Xue5irRJhj1ROn1QRfy_6kfsIGwJmRumidn5Gm51KXQZYfwrwlb6Rv_M2e7snM1DIZuOCvH/s1600/bottles+strings+copy+tally+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeogv9n1x4BHfq2TJajiQGkyRPI6SlycajusSRyTPnbUEVw4TPA2g3A-XpxMEohpAYVJPA6Xue5irRJhj1ROn1QRfy_6kfsIGwJmRumidn5Gm51KXQZYfwrwlb6Rv_M2e7snM1DIZuOCvH/s640/bottles+strings+copy+tally+2.JPG" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you were to measure the length of plastic bottles you were to recycle how far would it stretch? Could it stretch as far as San Juan to stress the importance of enacting a bottle bill on the island? </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK2wmMcLh0joaPz6n9XCWZFgN6Y8aR1cbsuiW4yXmSb_3CgdQQGfNK9IYTG4x_LeQSjDb3OC6ZAiuV1oRHpN_9qD8KpgOa_aCptgs-hhvunwxmRDLWoiPeyTlPA8ONG5u8ABJoEhXYIgg/s1600/bottle+strings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a> </div>
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Detailed counts per class are seen below. </div>
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Contact
Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more
information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine
debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-21720341251397243392012-03-21T22:12:00.000-04:002012-04-18T20:42:54.130-04:00Day 4: Spring Cleaning in Tres PalmasOn Wednesday, March 21st, 2012, two RMTP debris survey and removal outings were conducted with 2 different crews. In the morning, the Bierce's from Ohio removed a total of 3 tires, with the afternoon crew removing 6 more. During the morning outing David, Tom, and Cassidy accompanied me on a dive of the NW corner of the marine reserve. We surveyed a nice portion of the area and did not find any debris. The reef appears healthy and fish populations are beginning to slowly rebound.<br />
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The afternoon crew, Scott Cotner, Kendra Engstrom, and Celeste Pawol helped remove 6 tires, a derelict anchor, plastic debris, old rope, and boat debris. All of these items were removed from the sandy area offshore from the shoreline reef that stretches from Calle Surf to the Black Eagle Marina.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlPrRzpIH3sGfcYJGqEzioEn0sP0_eIuZgAX8SHMvwKSYHW7xHcIhpPjGG1SwFeymZ4V_bFsjnNnUAU77R8D5OSDfZd9dAqerZPay5_YwwUp0R5v1zMsfGLkz8FZeqjJcxARdlkSzL4bG/s1600/nw+corner+rmtp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlPrRzpIH3sGfcYJGqEzioEn0sP0_eIuZgAX8SHMvwKSYHW7xHcIhpPjGG1SwFeymZ4V_bFsjnNnUAU77R8D5OSDfZd9dAqerZPay5_YwwUp0R5v1zMsfGLkz8FZeqjJcxARdlkSzL4bG/s640/nw+corner+rmtp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deepest part of the marine reserve, the northwest corner, is a bustling reef habitat with hard and soft corals, sponges, schools of fish, and an abundance of invertebrates. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6_e027bVR-aejADEBm6IXJUluidCj6jNeGpD0g0X5yVnNhBmxh1tUxPfrNPaBdD5dY4u4zytnJbkSxctrgJaw7g7fLJcpRudDmdWr_FbzxZNlT4G2926ka_HxeIqwQMKsUsQ6QnmLLpU/s1600/school+of+fish+nw+corner+rmtp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6_e027bVR-aejADEBm6IXJUluidCj6jNeGpD0g0X5yVnNhBmxh1tUxPfrNPaBdD5dY4u4zytnJbkSxctrgJaw7g7fLJcpRudDmdWr_FbzxZNlT4G2926ka_HxeIqwQMKsUsQ6QnmLLpU/s640/school+of+fish+nw+corner+rmtp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under a ledge this mixture of grunts, parrotfish, snappers, and tangs take shelter for the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bierce's were stoked to help out!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwZt0Sj8v5SE6Ndi6rL7t9lqQdrHGKaCTnZKsf5azpwzWozOFDgzRh_-xjTbC5PGd5ku4oNNSubwnqmOHjlB7iUj2By74lhPHahuNp5vGT3t_ATcPzMx-3XX_fFCfL8X5myUfCVjP-h97/s1600/debris+3+21+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijGakYPvG_BoNnA0SRu2iqJGpueh7ahzgAFFZaQLCGfIaIyVqG-0-r-yWnjyVVzzk33nEim6boh1m2YJ2HsxWqTjC4WLK2MCPiNixTdjJMoR5H00Z2I-mt_rWSegW4L_Tlstsg7xbkmo/s1600/track+3_21_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijGakYPvG_BoNnA0SRu2iqJGpueh7ahzgAFFZaQLCGfIaIyVqG-0-r-yWnjyVVzzk33nEim6boh1m2YJ2HsxWqTjC4WLK2MCPiNixTdjJMoR5H00Z2I-mt_rWSegW4L_Tlstsg7xbkmo/s640/track+3_21_12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The afternoon crew worked hard to remove 6 medium-sized tires and a host of other items off of the substrate. </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-64991670835072959102012-03-05T09:08:00.002-04:002012-03-05T09:08:53.707-04:00Installing Recycling Bins at the Marina and Steps Beach in Rincon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 a group of volunteers helped install the first recycling bins in Rincon at the Marina and at Steps beach. Two bins were installed at each beach and the chapter will be working with the Municipality of Rincon to monitor the effectiveness of this beach-side recycling program. Alex, a local high school student, cleaned, painted, and prepared the barrels that were used in this effort to fulfill his community service hours necessary to graduate this spring. Great job Alex! The chapter would like to thank all the volunteers that came out and helped install the recycling bins! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex breaks ground at the site of the recycling bins at the marina. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter and Steve align the posts at Steps beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Jim position the Latas y Plastico (Cans and Plastic) recycling bin into place. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are first beachside recycling bins installed along the beach in Rincon. One is designated for glass and the other for aluminum and plastic. There are two more at Steps beach. </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal and prevention effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-91515063023783245292012-03-05T08:52:00.001-04:002012-03-05T08:52:17.956-04:00Day 5; Removing the last pieces from Cayo Ron's backreef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Cayo Ron 3.1.2012</b></div>
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On Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Atlantis Diving Contractors as well as a few volunteers accompanied the chapter on its last visit to Cayo Ron to remove portions of the boat wreck that still remained in the backreef. The salvage team managed to cut up the portion of the rudder while volunteers surveyed the area for any last pieces and swam them back to the boat. The last large piece that we were able to remove was a portion of the engine. The component is thought to once house the fluids of the boat that ran aground; it weighed about 250 pounds. The only remnants of the boat wreck still at Cayo Ron are pieces that are completely covered and colonized by soft corals and/or hard corals, and portions of the wreck that are extremely shallow. The objects that are extremely shallow are portions of the engine that are extremely heavy and may deem infeasible to remove because in doing so the reef is subject to even more stress and damage. Besides removing the last portions of the boat wreck, volunteers also helped monitor the status of the coral transplants that were removed from the wreckage. Most of the transplants seem to be doing fine and a few pictures are provided below. The final monitoring of the coral transplants and the progress of the
reef where the large boat hull was removed will be done in early August.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRoIFJqoCaN3LMeWgoCYr1XSmwZmTUeaCm6sc7WSwb9vqWE4dehPlmbTJcHZq6ZlgD2r49FIadD89zcvdGdGU77Eh2MId4QEY1PpWfQ0JwpAE4iJYwKrstQriiBJkWV4sWDURmAQzFr6i/s1600/engine+part.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRoIFJqoCaN3LMeWgoCYr1XSmwZmTUeaCm6sc7WSwb9vqWE4dehPlmbTJcHZq6ZlgD2r49FIadD89zcvdGdGU77Eh2MId4QEY1PpWfQ0JwpAE4iJYwKrstQriiBJkWV4sWDURmAQzFr6i/s640/engine+part.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Tom lift-bag a large portion of the engine towards Orca II. This portion of the engine was discovered adjacent to other main engine components that were extremely shallow and heavy making them infeasible to move. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rcXB8e2TQrgqjjXM0wgdOZ_q1OrORhe8hzZos9FFwR5Ql-FzrIg6TXaE0-fk3bIuvUgqQEfo4w0lZKu5KcbZEKaZ1-VmgfUKD1MJ1MuMcSVZKuCVIbzKP1ct9SNdV_H4-WkX2LpYQv9O/s1600/back+reef+cayo+ron.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rcXB8e2TQrgqjjXM0wgdOZ_q1OrORhe8hzZos9FFwR5Ql-FzrIg6TXaE0-fk3bIuvUgqQEfo4w0lZKu5KcbZEKaZ1-VmgfUKD1MJ1MuMcSVZKuCVIbzKP1ct9SNdV_H4-WkX2LpYQv9O/s640/back+reef+cayo+ron.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staghorn coral (<i>Acropora cervicornis</i>) is highly abundant along portions of Cayo Ron. Pictured here is a dense thicket of <i>A. cervicornis</i> in the back reef near the boat wreck site. Debris from the wreck was once strewn across 3.2 acres of reef and now it is nearly all gone. Only a few pieces remain buried by sediments and reef rubble or in the extreme shallow section of the reef crest. The large slabs of fiberglass panels volunteers have removed will allow for more dense thickets of <i>A. cervicornis</i> to colonize and thrive for years to come. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNuUotVeHQH0csC1cGqw3738CGfzko1BuorenoyJl0UIfKoxfwujGjypfCatOltz1L6uuwGGh29p3GZFxyNzIujtLeBJCv4EJPgRy-YnVejH9gepKU7GITkM4Df5Vzhll1IOwglU_RSya/s1600/back+reef+cayo+ron+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNuUotVeHQH0csC1cGqw3738CGfzko1BuorenoyJl0UIfKoxfwujGjypfCatOltz1L6uuwGGh29p3GZFxyNzIujtLeBJCv4EJPgRy-YnVejH9gepKU7GITkM4Df5Vzhll1IOwglU_RSya/s640/back+reef+cayo+ron+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayo Ron is nearly 5 miles from the nearest mangrove coastline so juvenile grunts and snappers like these must have adequate habitat for shelter and food in order to grow and move to other portions of the reef. <i>A. cervicornis </i>(pictured above) provides the necessary ingredients for reef fish recruitment in portions of Cayo Ron's backreef. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoOQeNxf5xsiygvGLx5qQVjiPlh7To69QlLMisBs_g0RIP85YeFG8LgNEhM7w7tO74lfSnwPWHt75o8K65yhdqTx5cs66GHnTUIp9OfSos_Nj2955Ng33EeaxkkW-vw9GEf2F6qsZ0drc/s1600/3_1_12+crew.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoOQeNxf5xsiygvGLx5qQVjiPlh7To69QlLMisBs_g0RIP85YeFG8LgNEhM7w7tO74lfSnwPWHt75o8K65yhdqTx5cs66GHnTUIp9OfSos_Nj2955Ng33EeaxkkW-vw9GEf2F6qsZ0drc/s640/3_1_12+crew.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Diving Contractors and a few volunteers helped finish removing the last large portions of the boat wreck that were in the backreef of Cayo Ron. The only pieces left were those covered by reef rubble and/or sediments, and in extreme shallow portions of the reef. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs195bSl03LD99KaLGTdusHplotOSoc4Etbwd6lm3MIc9ghaLSYELzVKCe3NkCWacR3A6Lv8Ce1MaPX5W-cG-GbbX5I2B_WOw4-NiEr0FT6XHoLiWEpdcp2xyW4PhGDVh2WusptfnbISKH/s1600/volunteer+monitoring+coral+transplant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs195bSl03LD99KaLGTdusHplotOSoc4Etbwd6lm3MIc9ghaLSYELzVKCe3NkCWacR3A6Lv8Ce1MaPX5W-cG-GbbX5I2B_WOw4-NiEr0FT6XHoLiWEpdcp2xyW4PhGDVh2WusptfnbISKH/s640/volunteer+monitoring+coral+transplant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monitoring the coral transplants is just as important as removing the marine debris. These corals were once growing on portions of the boat hull that were not suitable for growth. Now, about 30 of them are located along a ridge of the back reef that is close to where the largest portion of the boat hull was once located. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSib4mqCupOeqCGqvLiYpviyHbudczpjCDpbEordfWB_QxvRygQn0hC6xpIKDMJKQw4DGkZ6m8CggslDyNdprwfAAXhNFjNcZ027VjVnAEr2HfhzWE5MLClcsPc78kOZS25qbMlcYibeH6/s1600/transplant+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSib4mqCupOeqCGqvLiYpviyHbudczpjCDpbEordfWB_QxvRygQn0hC6xpIKDMJKQw4DGkZ6m8CggslDyNdprwfAAXhNFjNcZ027VjVnAEr2HfhzWE5MLClcsPc78kOZS25qbMlcYibeH6/s640/transplant+10.JPG" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured 166 days apart, the mustard hill coral (<i>Porities astreoides</i>) has slowly begun to grow on its new home. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt76wb36R91-EyH6owhyphenhyphen4jjBCDa7mlf_WO3vKKX1tqTXzlnhXVSgjI0bDPB67T_tfCLh2VP6yhwI2VQY6O2Np8vtL5cvXKbDbTr5KHuqKERI_6-SRiLcJ_IpwUg4kOlufvLEvh-7dhjd5/s1600/transplant+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt76wb36R91-EyH6owhyphenhyphen4jjBCDa7mlf_WO3vKKX1tqTXzlnhXVSgjI0bDPB67T_tfCLh2VP6yhwI2VQY6O2Np8vtL5cvXKbDbTr5KHuqKERI_6-SRiLcJ_IpwUg4kOlufvLEvh-7dhjd5/s640/transplant+9.JPG" width="618" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same coral, just different ways of denoting (#9), show that this brain coral (<i>Diploria strigosa</i>) transplant is doing fine on its new home. </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-35315108061362889652012-02-26T14:27:00.000-04:002012-02-26T14:49:57.444-04:00Recycling Tally up to February 24th 2012The first tally is in! Between both MASIS in Anasco and Jorge Seda Crespo in Rincon the schools have combined to recycle 20 (95 gallon) full containers of plastic and 2.5 (95 gallon) full containers of aluminum. Check out the leader board below the image! <br />
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<b>MASIS</b> <b>Jorge Seda Crespo</b><br />
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<b>Best All Around: Class #6 </b> <b>Best All Around: Class #8</b><br />
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Most Plastic: Class #12 Most Plastic: Class #6<br />
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Most Aluminum: Class #3 Most Aluminum: Class #7 & #14<br />
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Most Plastic Counted: Class #6 Most Plastic Counted: Class #14<br />
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Most Aluminum Counted: Class #2 Most Aluminum Counted: Class #8 <br />
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If we were to assume that single-use plastics were the only material
being recycled in the schools, and the fact that a single-use plastic
bottle measures ~8.5", and that 350 single-use plastic bottles fill a 95
gallon container then MASIS has recycled (13.5 x 350 = 4725 bottles)
and JSC has recycled (6.5 x 350 = 2275 bottles). When we take the
amount of bottles recycled for each school and multiple it by the length
of a single bottle we get the length of the "bottle-string" the school
is compiling and heading on an adventure around the island! The MASIS
bottle-string = 1.02 km and the JSC bottle-string = .49 km. See the
progress of each bottle-string in the image below. Click on the image
for a larger view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK2wmMcLh0joaPz6n9XCWZFgN6Y8aR1cbsuiW4yXmSb_3CgdQQGfNK9IYTG4x_LeQSjDb3OC6ZAiuV1oRHpN_9qD8KpgOa_aCptgs-hhvunwxmRDLWoiPeyTlPA8ONG5u8ABJoEhXYIgg/s1600/bottle+strings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK2wmMcLh0joaPz6n9XCWZFgN6Y8aR1cbsuiW4yXmSb_3CgdQQGfNK9IYTG4x_LeQSjDb3OC6ZAiuV1oRHpN_9qD8KpgOa_aCptgs-hhvunwxmRDLWoiPeyTlPA8ONG5u8ABJoEhXYIgg/s640/bottle+strings.JPG" width="468" /></a> </div>
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Detailed counts per class are seen below. </div>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-78472736885258301572012-02-12T16:18:00.001-04:002012-02-12T17:01:09.700-04:00Thanks to our participating Surf Companies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtgZgxNj9-S1IYObmYYjEmCT7LsAC5kKWUm2tY8uSrUhMYBM1whAqW-KOD7uwIISxVxe71RmjPigfQsmlEAn9vYPLP4GFVwfbST6u_N0gYNAvDj9V7lZLfQ9eIpzyzawiSAJMHj5ke_1O/s1600/project+surf+partners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtgZgxNj9-S1IYObmYYjEmCT7LsAC5kKWUm2tY8uSrUhMYBM1whAqW-KOD7uwIISxVxe71RmjPigfQsmlEAn9vYPLP4GFVwfbST6u_N0gYNAvDj9V7lZLfQ9eIpzyzawiSAJMHj5ke_1O/s640/project+surf+partners.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The chapter would like to thank all of the surf companies participating in the chapter's coral reef restoration program. The companies in the image above have donated backpacks, clothing, stickers, surf gear, and more to be given to the participating students throughout the semester at various events. It is with their help that the chapter can encourage local students, community stakeholders, and businesses to come together to decrease the amount of plastic and other debris in and entering our world's oceans. Below are two short clips of some students saying thanks to Roxy and Oneway Boardshop during recent events at their schools. <br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/32Th6tuUoCo" target="_blank">Thanks Roxy!!</a><br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/wQwunk5v3Pc" target="_blank">Thanks Oneway Boardshop!</a><br />
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In the links above, students participating in the Surfrider Foundation Rincon chapter's coral reef restoration program say thanks to project partners, Roxy and Oneway Boardshop, for providing some great gear given out as prizes at a recent event promoting the protection of our waves, oceans, reefs, and beaches in Puerto Rico. The students are participating with the chapter in beginning efficient marine debris prevention programs within their schools to reduce the amount of plastic and other debris that make it to the ocean along the west coast of Puerto Rico. Aside from recycling and become eco-ambassadors for their communities, the students are also helping the chapter by installing recycling bins along area beaches, doing beach cleanups, and removing tires and other debris off of the reef. The chapter would like to thank, Roxy, Oneway boardshop, Creatures of Leisure, FCS, Gorilla, and Headhunter for their donation of all of their great products to this program to be used as an incentive to encourage participating students to help out more. Thanks! <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-48811865974107083502012-02-06T08:11:00.002-04:002012-02-06T08:11:25.462-04:00Enhancing Jorge Seda Crespo's School-wide Recycling Program<span style="color: black;">
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<span>This past weekend, the outreach and education component
of the Surfrider Foundation Rincon's coral reef restoration project
continued at <span style="color: black;">Jorge Seda Crespo</span> in Rincon, PR.
On Saturday, approximately 45 students, teachers, parents, and
community volunteers joined the SF Rincon chapter to enhance their
school-wide recycling program. The chapter would like to thank the school director <b>Miriam Perez</b> and her faculty for helping out with everything on Saturday in addition to all the preparation leading up to the event. The chapter would also like to thank <b>Amy Murphree</b> from <b>Roxy </b>for coming and helping out in the event and hooking up the students with some great Roxy gear. Many thanks to the community group known as <a href="http://reduciendolahuellaplastica.com/"><b>Reduciendo la Huella Plastico </b></a>for coming out to help, too! </span></span> <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-20820760601094119632012-01-29T11:22:00.000-04:002012-01-30T06:55:23.413-04:00MASIS Recycling Program Begins<div class="MsoNormal">
This past Saturday, January 28th, 2012, around 45 students, teachers, parents, and community volunteers joined the SF Rincon chapter to commence their school-wide recycling program by painting 16 (14-gallon) blue recycling bins, 7 (95-gallon) recycling bins, 4 (30 gallon) recycling bins, and a wooden corral. These bins were purchased by the chapter from <a href="http://www.amecpr.com/">AMEC PR</a> with funding from a grant provided by NOAA. The municipality of Añasco is cooperating with the chapter and the school to service the bins weekly and the chapter will be charting how much plastic and aluminum the school is recycling throughout the semester. Surf industry companies such as Roxy, FCS, Gorilla, Creatures of Leisure, Nixon, and Rip Curl have donated products to the program to provide to students throughout the semester. In fact, students will be competing against homerooms to see how much each class can recycle throughout the semester and the winning class will receive cool prizes from those aforementioned companies and a pizza party provided by the chapter. This is all great fun for an amazing cause. <br />
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Jorge Seda Crespo was the other school selected in the area to participate in this program and this Saturday, February 4th, 2012, we will be holding their opening event at their school. In the future, the chapter hopes to work with more schools along the west coast from Isabela to Parguera to strengthen the recycling efforts on the west coast. If anyone is interested in volunteering for Saturday's event please email Wess at wessley.merten@upr.edu. </div>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal and prevention effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-18880768561520971832012-01-29T11:04:00.001-04:002012-01-29T11:49:22.984-04:00Day 3: Surveying and Removing Debris in RMTPLast Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, Captain Pauco Font and I took some more volunteers out on his vessel, "Mi Familia," to survey and remove tires from reef habitat in Rincon. In the morning we had 4 volunteers and in the afternoon we had 2. The morning crew was James Sethward, Ky Plamondon, Brian Hawes, and Ariana Piñero; the afternoon crew consisted of Rina Hauptfeld and Terry Norman. We removed a total of 10 tires, a metal rod, plastic, and clothing off of the reef.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDjNbN5UwG9ze3maKyBSXmlqJA9lTvZNfWvwEJJdng9aPZvzELIdu3fm3yH_nFXdF_GE8coVcqQFjrDnD_rfWX-b4RwWUzJ8z-36i0CQrskiJh2ftUb4lqLosCF1Oie801uBdrP2u45EX/s1600/debris_1_25_12+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDjNbN5UwG9ze3maKyBSXmlqJA9lTvZNfWvwEJJdng9aPZvzELIdu3fm3yH_nFXdF_GE8coVcqQFjrDnD_rfWX-b4RwWUzJ8z-36i0CQrskiJh2ftUb4lqLosCF1Oie801uBdrP2u45EX/s640/debris_1_25_12+copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above depicts all the debris that was discovered on Wednesday's outing. We only removed 10 tires of the 25 we found. We also found some fiberglass boat debris, an old anchor, cable, and chain. This will all be removed in future outings. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0adJKA0aN76tcAbYrWhsdpyPs5xvgXdifh93DEaIjT4etPardVi2mEivkVu2bUnvFpIZ6KEUEgferNyiN8cLF1hm9z5f73wau9Jj7T9CBngskEfgLTUnSDxHypGX3jpbqOz6xyr7v6eFH/s1600/track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0adJKA0aN76tcAbYrWhsdpyPs5xvgXdifh93DEaIjT4etPardVi2mEivkVu2bUnvFpIZ6KEUEgferNyiN8cLF1hm9z5f73wau9Jj7T9CBngskEfgLTUnSDxHypGX3jpbqOz6xyr7v6eFH/s640/track.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above represents our boat survey tracks this past Wednesday (1.25.12). </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-15926918436989327422012-01-18T05:51:00.002-04:002012-01-18T05:51:18.051-04:00Day 2 Rincon; Surveying and Removing Debris in the RMTP<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>January 11th 2012 - Marine Debris Removal Resumes in RMTP</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZWY2kcTXC7c4ncdQvFyq_Vot1Zm_7v1joZvsTviu5xDDwgcfaUe2VeaBokk9HW_4zquAXaFc5qXX803saL0y46Ng5tIvn9DZR1x5Ml0eA2GH6e01KwVb27tPugOKnkeogUOjuhW2Sl6d/s1600/adrian_brendan_ky_james.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZWY2kcTXC7c4ncdQvFyq_Vot1Zm_7v1joZvsTviu5xDDwgcfaUe2VeaBokk9HW_4zquAXaFc5qXX803saL0y46Ng5tIvn9DZR1x5Ml0eA2GH6e01KwVb27tPugOKnkeogUOjuhW2Sl6d/s640/adrian_brendan_ky_james.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The morning crew. Pictured L to R (James Sethward (PR), Adrian Massie (RI), Brendan Crawford (RI), Ky Plamondon (RI)). This crew helped locate and remove 4 tires, a car battery, some cable and plastic debris. Thanks fellas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH-_9SxipIovI6NA0Tz-3UJFfICieIWHQ7S1UpteBkDphtdyEbBPCCXBpChsGx8WcfGjuWiwxrwacn2Rj6Mmx4x8vp4JTHbH8Tk6L3FfzTWnnHm7VPR7OvejuXa8Vg6dnhM6vLK1Z1bJZ/s1600/Andy_Theo_Jessa_Steinman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH-_9SxipIovI6NA0Tz-3UJFfICieIWHQ7S1UpteBkDphtdyEbBPCCXBpChsGx8WcfGjuWiwxrwacn2Rj6Mmx4x8vp4JTHbH8Tk6L3FfzTWnnHm7VPR7OvejuXa8Vg6dnhM6vLK1Z1bJZ/s640/Andy_Theo_Jessa_Steinman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The afternoon crew. Pictured L to R (Adam Steinman (ME), Theo Steinman (ME), and Jessa Steinman (ME)). This crew helped us remove 4 tires previously located by the am crew. Adam and I also scuba dove along a reef break and collected copious amounts of plastic debris. Thanks for the hard work crew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_irmkCUnPgzGL2PjH8P9zJvqEUyCd45C4f34wDXGt9IMvzPEAVt0zSXdK9N-b1dDEBjZ1m0_nYEhiY5zQ2dfoAB2yUKvvJq5OrdUe-RKkHQPONfCwmX5EdZMhGO6ABc5fhypxTedZmex/s1600/debris_1_11_12+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_irmkCUnPgzGL2PjH8P9zJvqEUyCd45C4f34wDXGt9IMvzPEAVt0zSXdK9N-b1dDEBjZ1m0_nYEhiY5zQ2dfoAB2yUKvvJq5OrdUe-RKkHQPONfCwmX5EdZMhGO6ABc5fhypxTedZmex/s640/debris_1_11_12+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The diagram above depicts the location and type of debris the volunteers found and removed on 1.11.12. The size of the symbols is not to scale.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G57iIBnAmvQ21Qqca8FWEf3sJcwW-ETCWdwgVzkBeKiwfU37fK85I1Q9fO3Px_ewclh_g6BWHxY4vjS4wfIAe0gev6z5TXcMgVLXmWY6lYnnTbwfN-X3VmypHBkqrk6T_SgGDZDuG5ON/s1600/survey+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G57iIBnAmvQ21Qqca8FWEf3sJcwW-ETCWdwgVzkBeKiwfU37fK85I1Q9fO3Px_ewclh_g6BWHxY4vjS4wfIAe0gev6z5TXcMgVLXmWY6lYnnTbwfN-X3VmypHBkqrk6T_SgGDZDuG5ON/s640/survey+track.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white dots in the diagram above depict the boat survey track that volunteers took aboard Captain Pauco Font's vessel while tow-boarding to locate the debris. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVDQ5a7YshKf8sm4TPZ2_2RK1a766GkpIzDb189LetwD8FOHLo0dNbALDoV6w6JGFZEWpDWV33BnH20JLGbl8rptST_SeFYRiSZNbmMzna4MvWN4Yex_2vW1TNvUYSp9s-UzPqaqFW00Q/s1600/adrian+massie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVDQ5a7YshKf8sm4TPZ2_2RK1a766GkpIzDb189LetwD8FOHLo0dNbALDoV6w6JGFZEWpDWV33BnH20JLGbl8rptST_SeFYRiSZNbmMzna4MvWN4Yex_2vW1TNvUYSp9s-UzPqaqFW00Q/s640/adrian+massie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian Massie points out a tire debris field as he tow-boards in Reserva Marina Tres Palmas on 1.11.12</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu68_H7NTi2p8A4Ve6h31qxwbzjTpLR-HcBLLfO6xNLWjOA6ct_2YcfgNjJ292XzlTcH5U0f-x46-bLQ_E0t4NtETe3A6zIjat2RRTLdG_PZkwOavR1hyphenhyphenjGLBQTOSYhCKuj-X6C-K0wRz/s1600/adam+steinman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu68_H7NTi2p8A4Ve6h31qxwbzjTpLR-HcBLLfO6xNLWjOA6ct_2YcfgNjJ292XzlTcH5U0f-x46-bLQ_E0t4NtETe3A6zIjat2RRTLdG_PZkwOavR1hyphenhyphenjGLBQTOSYhCKuj-X6C-K0wRz/s640/adam+steinman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Steinman, pictured here, places another piece of plastic debris in his bag as we dove along the reef in RMTP on 1.11.12 </td></tr>
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<u>Outing Summary</u><br />
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Today was a great day on the water in the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. We had a total of 8 volunteers participate in the day's activities. The morning crew was Adrian Massie, Brendan Crawford, Ky Plamondon, and James Sethward, with the pm crew being Adam Steinman, Theo Steinman, Jessa Steinman, and Terry Norman. Between both crews, we managed to remove 8 tires, a car battery, clothing, a bag full of plastic debris, and mark more debris to be removed in our next outing. The weather conditions were pleasant making for an enjoyable day on the water. The near-shore visibility was good (~50') and made tow-boarding a lot of fun and effective in locating debris. <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-3959444119681235852011-12-01T09:10:00.001-04:002011-12-01T09:21:17.742-04:00Coral Reef Seminars Continue at Jorge Seda Crespo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V0VJp615LLXaSyCVpI_oYWRIRUNASCEBa0JUXNzm0b22gNz6lYgSEQ5rFvKJ_aUA9voil3c58A0zkKZBDvQT2I9rBe2mHSGVDR7QIhiUUrwLM61OIKxsMJ93RPbeiaR9cYQ6dR4-BdSq/s1600/reef_restoration_banner7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0V0VJp615LLXaSyCVpI_oYWRIRUNASCEBa0JUXNzm0b22gNz6lYgSEQ5rFvKJ_aUA9voil3c58A0zkKZBDvQT2I9rBe2mHSGVDR7QIhiUUrwLM61OIKxsMJ93RPbeiaR9cYQ6dR4-BdSq/s640/reef_restoration_banner7.jpg" width="618" /></a></div>
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The students in the photos above are cheering because their school was chosen to participate in this year's school-wide recycling program challenge as part of the SF Rincon's reef restoration project. The chapter purchased containers from a project partner, <a href="http://www.amecpr.com/">AMEC</a>, who manufactures waste and recycling equipment, of which <em style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></em> are being donated to the participating schools so the students can compete against homerooms to see how much plastic and aluminum material they can recycle in one semester. Cool prizes will be given out to the students who excel in this program and the winning homeroom team will get a pizza party. The two schools participating in the region with the chapter and their respective municipalities are Jorge Seda Crespo in Rincon and MASIS in Anasco. <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal and prevention effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-72479102724145567652011-11-06T23:18:00.001-04:002011-11-06T23:18:05.871-04:00Coral Reef Seminars Begin at West Coast Schools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE7pVxo9C2J0bI7FIw9ZgDqARyYl1DNc4hvtVNth4DsMbqckrDN2UBXxiUgCkCQ0HpiXyBligvpdKYt5CtPY74H7LJO_QSJ_yJQgv4UttwegX2lUPFFeCxt6RjsnGx6aVYFy0fyu3NJ14/s1600/reef_restoration_banner6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE7pVxo9C2J0bI7FIw9ZgDqARyYl1DNc4hvtVNth4DsMbqckrDN2UBXxiUgCkCQ0HpiXyBligvpdKYt5CtPY74H7LJO_QSJ_yJQgv4UttwegX2lUPFFeCxt6RjsnGx6aVYFy0fyu3NJ14/s640/reef_restoration_banner6.jpg" width="618" /></a></div>
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Last Wednesday, the outreach and education component of the Surfrider Foundation Rincon's coral reef restoration project began at MASIS in Anasco, PR. The morning included (4) 50 minute seminars which were given to 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 11th graders; in the coming weeks the rest of the grades will get to participate, too. The students learned about the status of coral reefs around the world, coral biology, current and past restoration projects, and what they can do to help. A performance goal for this portion of the project is to present this material to 500 students on the west coast and include them in new and/or enhanced recycling programs at their respective schools. Besides, MASIS, other participating schools are Jorge Seda Crespo (Rincon's Middle School), Rincon's High School, and San Sebastian's Maximino A. Salas Middle School. <br />
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A special thanks goes out to SF Rincon's chapter chair, Jim Crotty, for helping during the presentations! <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-29234560413876740072011-10-12T08:43:00.001-04:002011-10-12T12:57:04.332-04:00Day 1 Rincon; Reef Restoration Program Recommences in Rincon for the 2011/12 Season<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKqfRZghbgPZHeWPiPIpI3JslikeN3a4LXs_RkQ6nRxGlAkXIwt-wnPV6-bapqoWwSdjVVrydKD7MUJZJVjwKW6LL4eff1WQAl7_MTX-_Ip4IBfi3GJwJ2A2CaTAl3iqbQnbGm7OtK7XI/s1600/survey_10_8_2011_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVr9VMqQEFmwVIj6ZIaJatUjl2DOGuH6Yd6doMLg6BH1MaXcK97rs8fTkK9MSaUfZCZhqcunstVV485WyhlvOxDWaYUngQ5ZUH4x0JcBrxAwPbaHMocBxE3AFY1cdSptR6MX4rC9TNw6G/s1600/DSC00122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVr9VMqQEFmwVIj6ZIaJatUjl2DOGuH6Yd6doMLg6BH1MaXcK97rs8fTkK9MSaUfZCZhqcunstVV485WyhlvOxDWaYUngQ5ZUH4x0JcBrxAwPbaHMocBxE3AFY1cdSptR6MX4rC9TNw6G/s320/DSC00122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you see this container be sure to use it to recycle! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This past Saturday more than 60 people participated in the chapter's first reef restoration event of the 2011/12 season in Rincon. The activities included cleaning the beach from the Balneario to Steps, a nearshore survey of the Elkhorn coral colonies in the southern portion of the reserve, and spray painting recycling containers that are being donated to area schools and businesses to help increase municipal recycling and to prevent more debris from entering our oceans. This is a pilot project that we are starting in conjunction with this year's reef restoration program in Rincon. With project funds, the chapter is
purchasing recycling bins, painting them, and donating them to whomever
is interested in boosting their recycling efforts. All Metal Container
Equipment (AMEC) of Arecibo and the Municipality of Rincon is collaborating with us on this project. If you own a business in the
area, or are interested in helping to enhance recycling in our local
schools, please contact us about getting some more containers. <br />
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A special thanks goes out to All Metal Equipment Containers (AMEC) of Arecibo for providing us the containers, the municipality of Rincon for their collaboration in this project, Pratt Institute of New York, MAS Integrated School of Anasco, and Club 4H Urayo of Anasco, for all of your help this past Saturday. You guys rock!<br />
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<b>Saturday's stats:</b><br />
60 participants<b> </b><br />
Collected 200 pounds of debris along the shoreline<br />
Surveyed 1 km of nearshore coastline<br />
Painted (1) 2 yard container and 5 95 gallon containers<br />
Donated our first 95 gallon container to Club Nautico de Rincon<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz8s02UtMcq06IBAap2aYdvjkQcYOeM9iiMQdu79M-cpxx_HkrAzLniDhOlbTUv8tjGJ6OC3ZsQ6g-1GiLUgt3YtoKJI5iWjxwIpLVos18cUO0chdfVLFP_gYbBPkzH-hDEsVZ66CXC5b/s1600/DSC00123.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz8s02UtMcq06IBAap2aYdvjkQcYOeM9iiMQdu79M-cpxx_HkrAzLniDhOlbTUv8tjGJ6OC3ZsQ6g-1GiLUgt3YtoKJI5iWjxwIpLVos18cUO0chdfVLFP_gYbBPkzH-hDEsVZ66CXC5b/s640/DSC00123.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a photo of our beautiful freshly painted marine debris container. The animals serve as a reminder to us as to why we are working to remove and prevent marine debris from entering our oceans. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNOrYtHLSbU2hDOn6lDUSfWP2ljlsuS7HyAf8ODl9Q94osjJnv8nFTVh5txpa04t8uAsueR-wY7broaplh2e7KWMhnTZsAxnT9BRAg3uXRA4M8kNEr2jlC5FdYdUaQvYLlHXDyBZ2T5x3/s1600/DSC00109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNOrYtHLSbU2hDOn6lDUSfWP2ljlsuS7HyAf8ODl9Q94osjJnv8nFTVh5txpa04t8uAsueR-wY7broaplh2e7KWMhnTZsAxnT9BRAg3uXRA4M8kNEr2jlC5FdYdUaQvYLlHXDyBZ2T5x3/s640/DSC00109.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students from MASIS </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGJi6Eqc0WTfUG6sj9BXYVkgKqYWZeHGdzvtNf-JbPdRHACD7747ZQpgQRdV99QXQSgnP_foG60e9yDFWoQJtFm6ExZopRUarSoDvcmwfJ8hAM70_EjNo8T3mwBKSPIx9oDFTWPpf-8OS/s1600/DSC00121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGJi6Eqc0WTfUG6sj9BXYVkgKqYWZeHGdzvtNf-JbPdRHACD7747ZQpgQRdV99QXQSgnP_foG60e9yDFWoQJtFm6ExZopRUarSoDvcmwfJ8hAM70_EjNo8T3mwBKSPIx9oDFTWPpf-8OS/s640/DSC00121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a picture of the group of architectural graduate students from Pratt enjoying their masterpieces. The students graciously created all the stencils that were used on Saturday to paint the containers. These same stencils will be used to paint more containers in the future. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKSfpE2rHTZyXL_T3tkH43BugbAqZenasTZZwqeDUenzS5NJJ8w6PdQElzec-fVrXTq0g-0C25Y2efpD4A1HFTcWhTXbmx62xNYWDkMrXJzZUc8u34blIYSJNpYR0eThtO01B6lN3aJCS/s1600/DSC00115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKSfpE2rHTZyXL_T3tkH43BugbAqZenasTZZwqeDUenzS5NJJ8w6PdQElzec-fVrXTq0g-0C25Y2efpD4A1HFTcWhTXbmx62xNYWDkMrXJzZUc8u34blIYSJNpYR0eThtO01B6lN3aJCS/s640/DSC00115.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun with stencils and spray paint all in the name of recycling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBfmN1R0PdE9TDJnCVHtsPOn3BMn0wn_NSNQInTHF_RnzAIeZ1uNsMXlxwXkKVB14BjH7BbyI0jjuLkceMVcx3AT13hgH0tApvt9gJLTCciFT5FWMh41aIt8KoHKox-xBbgOoGPlp7zR7/s1600/DSC00119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBfmN1R0PdE9TDJnCVHtsPOn3BMn0wn_NSNQInTHF_RnzAIeZ1uNsMXlxwXkKVB14BjH7BbyI0jjuLkceMVcx3AT13hgH0tApvt9gJLTCciFT5FWMh41aIt8KoHKox-xBbgOoGPlp7zR7/s640/DSC00119.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Club 4H Urayo of Anasco</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl35iNEdKD_vQNa0gafmHwDixeFsOEpBlB6zn-wEgyOl7cqX1HUuql28MAj2gDMnNKJBPuZ8HB9W9z8IM2Up6CUyVi4b90GbebrycRq87SaXSzNPY1LtdNbLKPfa73adHg4D51sorafCnZ/s1600/stoked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl35iNEdKD_vQNa0gafmHwDixeFsOEpBlB6zn-wEgyOl7cqX1HUuql28MAj2gDMnNKJBPuZ8HB9W9z8IM2Up6CUyVi4b90GbebrycRq87SaXSzNPY1LtdNbLKPfa73adHg4D51sorafCnZ/s640/stoked.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoked to participate and protect Puerto Rico's resources for the future</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKqfRZghbgPZHeWPiPIpI3JslikeN3a4LXs_RkQ6nRxGlAkXIwt-wnPV6-bapqoWwSdjVVrydKD7MUJZJVjwKW6LL4eff1WQAl7_MTX-_Ip4IBfi3GJwJ2A2CaTAl3iqbQnbGm7OtK7XI/s1600/survey_10_8_2011_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKqfRZghbgPZHeWPiPIpI3JslikeN3a4LXs_RkQ6nRxGlAkXIwt-wnPV6-bapqoWwSdjVVrydKD7MUJZJVjwKW6LL4eff1WQAl7_MTX-_Ip4IBfi3GJwJ2A2CaTAl3iqbQnbGm7OtK7XI/s640/survey_10_8_2011_2.jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a diagram of the survey a group of 15 snorkelers did this past Saturday. I'm happy to report that all of the large Elkhorn colonies that I am familiar with in this portion of the reserve were debris free. The only items we found were a block and a bunch of fishing line smothering a soft coral. The fishing line was removed, but the block will have to be with the boat. </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris prevention and removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-52233753307024362922011-09-20T02:51:00.002-04:002011-10-14T09:43:33.385-04:00Day 4; Underwater Demolition at Cayo Ron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN3GVmHsZXC2HXNgfbmRWsmBwkRZV4Nl-4Pcr3EBHqf6Sa_VLk_6qWsn-pLuCZ1ikd2E6-RdT6JwDdKyNVFnvNawKWv7BtcxrNVmaIAyfn-BqwP8P_820G6iXxRA3oioAjqnC_Cnor2mi/s1600/day4_DSC00108_adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVN3GVmHsZXC2HXNgfbmRWsmBwkRZV4Nl-4Pcr3EBHqf6Sa_VLk_6qWsn-pLuCZ1ikd2E6-RdT6JwDdKyNVFnvNawKWv7BtcxrNVmaIAyfn-BqwP8P_820G6iXxRA3oioAjqnC_Cnor2mi/s320/day4_DSC00108_adjusted.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tired but stoked demolition crew </td></tr>
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Last Thursday, a stacked crew joined myself, Paco
and
Carlos of Monaquatics, and Captain Edwin "Pauco" Font to participate in the
chapters' coral reef restoration project titled "Coral Reef Protection
through Marine Debris Removal in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas. The goal of Thursday's adventure was to demolish the boat hull by cutting it with a 36" underwater chainsaw and transplant additional corals from the rudder. After an extremely long and arduous effort we were successful. The chapter would like to thank Taino Divers for providing 9 tanks of air, Paco and
Carlos from Monaquatics for providing 6 tanks of air, Surf 787 for
providing a soft-top surfboard, Hector Ruiz from Reefscaping
for his contribution of pre-mixed cement and other supplies to
properly transplant the corals, Sean Griffin NOAAs' Puerto Rico reef restoration field coordinator for field oversight, Shayne McIntyre from OnSafari as well as Omar Ortiz from Seagrant for documenting, DRNA and Idelfonso Ruiz for debris pickup, and lastly but certainly not least the Atlantis Diving Contractors crew of 4 Miquel Molina, David Jesus, Luis Colon and Juan Colon for the underwater demolition services they provided. Thanks!! Below are photos from the Thursday's activities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyNia8DXTh2K8bofQIoKbTqRIJJ_o_NuFfLGy-W6Rm2y_RJMJ8G18oF0n1r-pQkqeeRu_ECr5NiiKiLMU-Yde6xChxaKfkIyTrKuWI1NB-1Idhf1jbLr5kwLsrRT9zhCLcNWyhLc_9zqD/s1600/underwater+chainsaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyNia8DXTh2K8bofQIoKbTqRIJJ_o_NuFfLGy-W6Rm2y_RJMJ8G18oF0n1r-pQkqeeRu_ECr5NiiKiLMU-Yde6xChxaKfkIyTrKuWI1NB-1Idhf1jbLr5kwLsrRT9zhCLcNWyhLc_9zqD/s640/underwater+chainsaw.jpg" width="568" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luis Colon of Atlantis Diving Contractors cuts a portion of the large boat hull. The insets are different angles taken during his cut. The lower image shows the boat hull in pieces at our drop spot in a wide open sediment area. These pieces were subsequently lift bagged and brought onto the boat; it is not as easy as it sounds because some of them weighed 400-500 lbs! (photo: S.McIntyre)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0y1BXtG1i9q__oCqpr7jdCzRI1fYrfw7iiRL6-dhojy87OFzyaZh1PjOJZpPLf8UCXyhJ2O6D32zAUuNqqV43ve3azZbcR-ARa8bQ-TsArRAIUADhjSzHazghOlXeJXJ1skIL-vLuTNe/s1600/day4_me_slab_adjusted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0y1BXtG1i9q__oCqpr7jdCzRI1fYrfw7iiRL6-dhojy87OFzyaZh1PjOJZpPLf8UCXyhJ2O6D32zAUuNqqV43ve3azZbcR-ARa8bQ-TsArRAIUADhjSzHazghOlXeJXJ1skIL-vLuTNe/s640/day4_me_slab_adjusted.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am swimming subsurface with a portion of the bow guiding it to our designated drop spot. This was a bit more of a tame piece to move that only required the use of 2 50 lb lift bags, but you can clearly see it is much larger than me. (Photo S.McIntyre) </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbwx5X5OZ-Z-YyuEGyt8CIHGHqczyu8h2oapBsKWZb262N-OCsCSgmh2IaUBBvSxwsBlo8WwryYH9qt9mz-rL7N4IVP2_nmwg6T5NIoKaKCkL78bSbpoH-zq45HrrJr4yqRQqMDoN5Bqu/s1600/Cayo+Ron+3d_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbwx5X5OZ-Z-YyuEGyt8CIHGHqczyu8h2oapBsKWZb262N-OCsCSgmh2IaUBBvSxwsBlo8WwryYH9qt9mz-rL7N4IVP2_nmwg6T5NIoKaKCkL78bSbpoH-zq45HrrJr4yqRQqMDoN5Bqu/s640/Cayo+Ron+3d_6.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The diagram above is a
3-Dimensional perspective of the debris field at Cayo Ron. The
approximate size of the debris field is 3.2 acres and has been the focus of our efforts. The upper image
depicts an aerial image of a portion of the western insular platform
with the northwestern region of Cayo Ron displaying a bathymetry layer.
The middle inset corresponds a different view of the bathymetry layer
of Cayo Ron with the lower view representing the 3D line of sight at
water level. This gives the viewer a unique perspective as to how the
debris is depicted spatially in the backreef at Cayo Ron. Note: The
objects are accurate in space but not in size. Waypoints depicted their
whereabouts and their size was scaled relative to the recorded size of
each piece/object and scaled using symbology in ArcGIS. The least
accurate attribute of this image is the amount of surface the pieces are
actually covering at Cayo Ron in the image. Future depictions will
correct for this.</span><br />
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We have one more field day left for our work at Cayo Ron then we will be shifting our efforts towards Rincon. If you would like to join us for our last field day at Cayo Ron to be held sometime during the week of 9/26 please contact me by email. Thanks! <br />
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-27827507571311675722011-09-06T09:38:00.001-04:002011-09-06T09:48:20.330-04:00Day 3; Transplanting Corals at Cayo Ron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM1jS-IgiUadrSQPgkqybBm0BKhKrcqt9hIyqahtEe8L-ztwcvbbwmbaFe7l7i_95UlkI7eYcgLgH4NbqZcmXwsm-8HbJr-p3gDSjlYztPIlb2aTR8SuOi-n-ou3RkAv-5rO4sx0yoJ3Z/s1600/rudder_schematic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Z6VoG7Y4LRRijUI-bYUo6lLxgUZPhcj2LzQV_l7NzP4-QvqcmMDQgwPFmFPig76iGkTQcn8aWcLdptowUtCkVkImnb6x3cBTK0DgpljDM_p3VDuyS5fwPilsk-iExeDuE8sd_QEDhQ4/s1600/day_3_group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3Z6VoG7Y4LRRijUI-bYUo6lLxgUZPhcj2LzQV_l7NzP4-QvqcmMDQgwPFmFPig76iGkTQcn8aWcLdptowUtCkVkImnb6x3cBTK0DgpljDM_p3VDuyS5fwPilsk-iExeDuE8sd_QEDhQ4/s320/day_3_group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another happy group of volunteers!</td></tr>
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This past Saturday a large group of volunteers joined myself and Paco and
Carlos of Monaquatics to participate in the
chapters' coral reef restoration project titled "Coral Reef Protection
through Marine Debris Removal in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas. The goal of Saturday's adventure was to survey, mark, and position additional debris to be removed off the reef and transplant corals off of the large boat hull. This group of volunteers including Hector Ruiz and Antonio Ortiz completed the tasks at hand. The chapter would like to thank Paco and Carlos from Monaquatics for providing 6 tanks of air, Surf 787 for providing 2 soft-tops and a kayak, and Hector and Antonio of Reefscaping for their contribution of pre-mixed cement and other supplies to properly transplant the corals. Thanks!! Below are photos from the Saturday's activities including the first one of the fourth coral transplant taken from the boat hull. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDgORUeDsulnlXBzge3zgEuAE4nEteBri8CSHjj9j8KGo24Z8A0H2s-8f70KIi8XvROAVRPHTyp8i4ARWuTuNDAwoagmRq8ngBsMHBgh35Leh0PYiFcUpH5qjV3SSwsjnVOM9GeFEb_B/s1600/4_po_ast_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcnDgORUeDsulnlXBzge3zgEuAE4nEteBri8CSHjj9j8KGo24Z8A0H2s-8f70KIi8XvROAVRPHTyp8i4ARWuTuNDAwoagmRq8ngBsMHBgh35Leh0PYiFcUpH5qjV3SSwsjnVOM9GeFEb_B/s320/4_po_ast_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral #4 <i>Porites astreoides</i> (common name = Mustard hill coral) documented after it was adhered to suitable substrate just meters from where it was removed from the hull. In total, 36 corals were transplanted off the hull composed of 3 other species commonly known as brain coral, star coral, and finger coral. Their progress will be monitored for a year. The black and gray deviations on the board are 5 cm apart (Photo W.Merten).<br />
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Below is a figure of the placement of 29 of the 36 transplanted corals in roughly identical habitat (i.e. depth, light, wave activity, temperature) as where they were removed, besides the type of substrate. This figure is based off of <i>in situ</i> (in the field) measurements with a measuring tape and meter stick. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_QTVSF4ZqRRR-jW1P3_yPvN-tKPd-dFbceXmWi1tLnyB3xxB8CZHicCu_Ft2bu63Lp02QYcFZai0dfexoF5QluvA1n3Ba8ZH87qOXNqrQvZkkoWzbXjm_Xo5k1__rT-vr8A_x830WMHM/s1600/coral_transplant_location_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_QTVSF4ZqRRR-jW1P3_yPvN-tKPd-dFbceXmWi1tLnyB3xxB8CZHicCu_Ft2bu63Lp02QYcFZai0dfexoF5QluvA1n3Ba8ZH87qOXNqrQvZkkoWzbXjm_Xo5k1__rT-vr8A_x830WMHM/s640/coral_transplant_location_final.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is a diagram of an estimate of the placement of 29 of the 36 transplanted corals at Cayo Ron on Saturday. The sequential placement of each coral was measured <i>in situ</i> in meters to reveal the transplant line. The substrate where the corals were placed is classified as colonized pavement and linear reef according to NOS habitat maps. There are 4 more corals that will be transplanted off the rudder and added to this line soon (Fig. W.Merten). </td></tr>
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Below is a figure of the second largest piece of boat debris that we will be cutting into more manageable pieces to be lifted off the reef on our 4th field day (TBA). Although this is the second largest piece (~ 6 sq. meters) of debris we will be removing off the reef, it is only 10% the size of the hull! However, it still has a fully functioning rudder that swivels! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM1jS-IgiUadrSQPgkqybBm0BKhKrcqt9hIyqahtEe8L-ztwcvbbwmbaFe7l7i_95UlkI7eYcgLgH4NbqZcmXwsm-8HbJr-p3gDSjlYztPIlb2aTR8SuOi-n-ou3RkAv-5rO4sx0yoJ3Z/s1600/rudder_schematic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM1jS-IgiUadrSQPgkqybBm0BKhKrcqt9hIyqahtEe8L-ztwcvbbwmbaFe7l7i_95UlkI7eYcgLgH4NbqZcmXwsm-8HbJr-p3gDSjlYztPIlb2aTR8SuOi-n-ou3RkAv-5rO4sx0yoJ3Z/s640/rudder_schematic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is a diagram of the rudder. The numbers correspond to the corals that we will be transplanting from the hull to nearby location. There is also a large soft coral (not shown) in the middle of the upper panel that we will be transplanting as well. The size of the rudder (~6 sq. m) was estimated by subtracting the unoccupied space the rudder filled from the area of a 6 x 9 m grid positioned on the substrate during the survey. The rudder is denoted by dotted lines coming from it's location on the lower panel. It is 1 meter in length and .6 meters tall (Fig. W.Merten).</td></tr>
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Below are the survey tracks after the first 3 field days at Cayo Ron. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3GroPQ2GYrX2S5L1leHWlOUVwqy8uGyc-pqxEgDD4oMY0r33LleTlRoCMx1pJ2xIDSnNH273gQbyABUVc3Spd1By58xy7mYL-4F0FZD-YkmQW-VMF68Hpp8ayaRxG1sibhJX1wNiYeru/s1600/Cayo_Ron_Survey+Tracks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3GroPQ2GYrX2S5L1leHWlOUVwqy8uGyc-pqxEgDD4oMY0r33LleTlRoCMx1pJ2xIDSnNH273gQbyABUVc3Spd1By58xy7mYL-4F0FZD-YkmQW-VMF68Hpp8ayaRxG1sibhJX1wNiYeru/s640/Cayo_Ron_Survey+Tracks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is a diagram of all the survey tracks the volunteers have conducted during the search and recovery of the marine debris in Cayo Ron's northern back reef. From the surveys and recovery of the debris it is postulated that not one but two boats ran aground here (Fig. W.Merten). </td></tr>
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Below is all the debris located during the first 3 days of work at Cayo Ron. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7vhe0Cisp2nVleZCD0EMSxZgxJwjYRV_amVyvuLMl4WOjM6D6Mzf7RuOxfOqNDYzTBPCRIJ2zvQFfw68lZnQkTux8AbKnenM5m2Bq8E5p7HhfmladCcS7i-2nB_nvK4wBJDXLNMGSzhT/s1600/Cayo_ron_track_worksheet_days1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7vhe0Cisp2nVleZCD0EMSxZgxJwjYRV_amVyvuLMl4WOjM6D6Mzf7RuOxfOqNDYzTBPCRIJ2zvQFfw68lZnQkTux8AbKnenM5m2Bq8E5p7HhfmladCcS7i-2nB_nvK4wBJDXLNMGSzhT/s640/Cayo_ron_track_worksheet_days1-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is a diagram of all the debris the volunteers have marked and documented over the past three outings. The symbols correspond to the type of debris we discovered group by category and denoted in the legend. Additionally, the hull and rudder polygons were placed where they occur on the reef. *Note: The size of the symbols and objects are not to scale. However, the distance between one and another is (Fig. W.Merten).</td></tr>
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The next field day will consist of cutting the boat hull and rudder into more manageable pieces to be taken back to land and deposited in a proper landfill. This date has yet to be determined but if you are interested in helping out please feel free to contact me.<br />
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Contact Info:<br />
Wessley Merten<br />
<br />
Email: wessley.merten@upr.edu<br />
P: 787-436-8300 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-56226217751592953992011-09-05T18:22:00.003-04:002011-09-06T09:50:13.742-04:00Day 2; Removing a TON of debris off Cayo Ron<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgXn5p7BIbxhAts9BuDeO408GmO8kunUUsF8VAIlIuZVCfs6LxbAI3GgvZtjyUWrZh2s64l-RrPZYfmdjfwVAlPLHCycYNGjUhyz4ZVxwQ2-LSPaz0p4vu1pQ71LKXW_-myDI0HdpyioG/s1600/day_2_group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgXn5p7BIbxhAts9BuDeO408GmO8kunUUsF8VAIlIuZVCfs6LxbAI3GgvZtjyUWrZh2s64l-RrPZYfmdjfwVAlPLHCycYNGjUhyz4ZVxwQ2-LSPaz0p4vu1pQ71LKXW_-myDI0HdpyioG/s320/day_2_group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday's crew (Photo Shayne McIntrye)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
This past Friday a small group of volunteers joined myself and Paco and Carlos of Monaquatics to participate in the
chapters' coral reef restoration project titled "Coral Reef Protection
through Marine Debris Removal in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs);
Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas. The goal of Friday's adventure was to remove fiberglass and wood slabs from 2 old shipwrecks off/out of Cayo Ron's beautiful back reef. The slabs and other pieces of debris were mostly previously marked and positioned during the first outing on the 27th of August. However, James Sethward and I still managed to lift-bag a few more newly discovered pieces to strategic sediment laden drop-spots where we moved our vessel and extracted the debris later that afternoon. Below is a photo of one of the 6 large slabs we removed on Friday. Those slabs, plus many other pieces of boat debris such as columns, heat exchangers, stereo speakers, etc. amounted in more than a TON (2200 lbs) of debris being removed from Cayo Ron. We arrived at this amount after the volunteers estimated the weight of each piece once on-board. Additionally, each piece was measured with a meter stick and we calculated a rough estimate of the area of reef substrate the pieces were covering to be ~21.4 square meters.<br />
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The chapter would like to thank Taino Divers
for providing 6 tanks of air and Surf 787 for providing 2 soft-top
surfboards and a kayak. We would also like to thank Idelfonso Ruiz for
organizing DRNA to come and pick up the debris promptly upon our
arrival. More thanks go out to Paco and Carlos for their hard work and I
would also like to thank Shayne and Shannon McIntyre for their help
with documenting the adventure.
Thanks!! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzqxphnsA3o_i2pxlrSpGfvwKvOVebTzGVO0pIoQ-XqWg1u7HdU6nvhoxmH0x0Lp9RQMVtTN6CiQKJ3OEEZ0rGmGVk279aMr04h_NYGjdDmN8WNkFsjV6EPKjQ66uEBWUOv2p3hwflhC5/s1600/removing_large_slab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzqxphnsA3o_i2pxlrSpGfvwKvOVebTzGVO0pIoQ-XqWg1u7HdU6nvhoxmH0x0Lp9RQMVtTN6CiQKJ3OEEZ0rGmGVk279aMr04h_NYGjdDmN8WNkFsjV6EPKjQ66uEBWUOv2p3hwflhC5/s640/removing_large_slab.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above is a photo of the crew hoisting a large ~200 lb slab off the reef. (Photo W.Merten ( L to R); Paco, Carlos, James, Terry and Steve). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSeRBlJu-NkoDrk9vUveTE4WxjNR1g4DDU7rcmEPPHk-ImjJVIHQ5E6Mf0fNk2ljxPS4lv-7XzF5sWNEB-nyuL3yrfa-bQBSS0fmMbdkpWReJ0xQBfhFdmY6LurJZZa_xi0dQbKCQGIN_/s1600/debris_day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSeRBlJu-NkoDrk9vUveTE4WxjNR1g4DDU7rcmEPPHk-ImjJVIHQ5E6Mf0fNk2ljxPS4lv-7XzF5sWNEB-nyuL3yrfa-bQBSS0fmMbdkpWReJ0xQBfhFdmY6LurJZZa_xi0dQbKCQGIN_/s640/debris_day2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once back at Monaquatics, DRNA was there to pick up the debris and truck it to a landfill. This is all the debris we removed and as you can see it completely fills the back of this large truck bed (and more!). Great work crew! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-15454058605303521862011-08-30T08:12:00.004-04:002011-09-05T17:17:24.479-04:00Day 1; Cayo Ron Survey<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj7UE7nOrdkFxBojQAd9xd0TbPKZsrpocOjIMUBwREFCAn9vDL-7sR6-O0eiCEhPXs7saBgImx6GSQM9rIyFkQptKNHcuuLgTeQxWpHJxcrfLlUJ3af3tKnZKRgffSSJ3EbxmqGMwkFiB/s1600/groupshot1_8_27_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBj7UE7nOrdkFxBojQAd9xd0TbPKZsrpocOjIMUBwREFCAn9vDL-7sR6-O0eiCEhPXs7saBgImx6GSQM9rIyFkQptKNHcuuLgTeQxWpHJxcrfLlUJ3af3tKnZKRgffSSJ3EbxmqGMwkFiB/s320/groupshot1_8_27_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One happy group of volunteers! (photo: W Merten)</td></tr>
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This past Saturday 18 volunteers joined myself to kick-off the chapters' coral reef restoration project titled "Coral Reef Protection through Marine Debris Removal in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas. The goal of Saturday's adventure was to survey the reef, mark the location of any debris we discovered, survey and ID the corals on the big boat hull, and have fun all the while. I'm very pleased to report that all of our objectives were completed for day. All of the volunteers deserve a big round of applause for the hard work they endured and for greatly contributing to this project. I would also like to thank Taino Divers for providing 6 tanks of air and Surf 787 for providing 2 soft-top surfboards and a kayak. I would also like to thank Oliver Bencosme and Pinchon from Seagrant for their help with documenting the adventure. Thanks!!<br />
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The next field days are on for Friday (9/2) and Saturday (9/3). Friday's objective is to remove previously marked small to medium size debris and to survey and ID corals on another large piece of the boat hull. Saturday's objective will be to transplant the previously identified corals on the large pieces of boat hull to nearby suitable substrate. If you are interested in helping out please contact me by email at wessley.merten@upr.edu. Check out the figures and photos below from Saturday's mission. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajPs4hoa9FYjVR1153k5kQpFwFsZvPjbWVKXtUxSSOcyv9EgCORPEu-qzStkQ1ObDYikh48jhtC54HoLrVeuvdMlu9eeERS8Tud-3TaNjHPwryljbf_LV1_7AOCSHy3mkWQkxhO-56B9h/s1600/Cayo_ron_track_8_27_2011t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajPs4hoa9FYjVR1153k5kQpFwFsZvPjbWVKXtUxSSOcyv9EgCORPEu-qzStkQ1ObDYikh48jhtC54HoLrVeuvdMlu9eeERS8Tud-3TaNjHPwryljbf_LV1_7AOCSHy3mkWQkxhO-56B9h/s640/Cayo_ron_track_8_27_2011t.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above displays the survey tracks conducted by volunteers this past Saturday. The inset, or focus area, is where most of the survey's were conducted due to the increased amount of shipwreck debris (Fig. W Merten).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83OvzjlJ74q-CLqVt3tKkZ_xlqPFr8nJGXL21vgDpkL9RjvBmN0IDfRgSDrxfiS6aFtNbC56NhRZgLeTkxcmi-p53s0uaoDm0cyU7AWk0RLlH4QjYHlE85T6zvVPF6pzdwdKTBzVasPPc/s1600/Cayo_ron_day_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83OvzjlJ74q-CLqVt3tKkZ_xlqPFr8nJGXL21vgDpkL9RjvBmN0IDfRgSDrxfiS6aFtNbC56NhRZgLeTkxcmi-p53s0uaoDm0cyU7AWk0RLlH4QjYHlE85T6zvVPF6pzdwdKTBzVasPPc/s640/Cayo_ron_day_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above displays the location of the debris the volunteers found during their surveys. Within the hull grid is a schematic of the shape of the large boat hull. See the figure below for a more detailed view (Fig. W Merten).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A total of 100 lbs of debris was removed from Cayo Ron as a result of Saturday's outing. However, we positioned probably around 300 lbs to be removed this Friday at a drop site in a sediment area in the backreef. Along with that debris, I estimate that this Friday we will remove around 500-700 lbs of debris! Bring your working muscles! Take a look at one of the monster boat hulls we are going to need to cut up to remove below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRibM57YXw9apslYgrUa3TPtX7MRYO-u_rv6QuTwXU8sTZz5DMrsDgRvJpya70d3-w8A8n8Vlt7_XaaCeelYBQ3P1fGczW9t-seumYDEqSDxcNmmpfBHiFkKRCxyUeYpjUNqE6n532ZK2-/s1600/Boat_Hull_schematic_with_corals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRibM57YXw9apslYgrUa3TPtX7MRYO-u_rv6QuTwXU8sTZz5DMrsDgRvJpya70d3-w8A8n8Vlt7_XaaCeelYBQ3P1fGczW9t-seumYDEqSDxcNmmpfBHiFkKRCxyUeYpjUNqE6n532ZK2-/s640/Boat_Hull_schematic_with_corals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above displays the boat hull on the substrate of Cayo Ron. The hull is covering 57.8 m^2 of habitable reef substrate. The numbers on the hull indicate the individual corals that are going to be transplanted to a location nearby. Below is a species list by number (n = 40). The white background is the grid that the measurements were based on. The tan background represents the substrate minus the abundance of hard and soft corals and other associated reef species (Fig. W Merten & Hector Ruiz). </td></tr>
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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information prepared by Hector Ruiz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The quantitative estimate of the boat hull was derived from in situ (in the water/field) measurements and through calculations in ArcGIS and Photoshop. A special thanks to James Sethward, Kathy Hall, and Carol Ramos for helping establishing the grid and with the process of taking measurements. Additionally, I would like to thank Hector Ruiz and Tim Rowell for their work identifiying the corals that will be transplanted. <br />
<br />
Our next outing is this Friday! Contact me by email if you are interested in helping out. <br />
<br />
<br />
Contact:<br />
<br />
Wessley Merten<br />
787-436-8300<br />
wessley.merten@upr.edu Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-82792203292428769482011-08-25T16:23:00.001-04:002011-08-25T16:23:24.503-04:00Saturday, August 27th, Field Day Outline<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q0vLr3led6xkVPGypvsBPXhmQEPz0K4eeR8IGQxkMj8QQMDg0CwQKIHXj-z7tWSi-6mWUQSmyCXJkLt2zjlH0RlsTnDF3FG-vUNaMITXm1X9ZYu87xeZ33roB-47o5sZhI0wTL8qwIue/s1600/Cayo_Ron_Reef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q0vLr3led6xkVPGypvsBPXhmQEPz0K4eeR8IGQxkMj8QQMDg0CwQKIHXj-z7tWSi-6mWUQSmyCXJkLt2zjlH0RlsTnDF3FG-vUNaMITXm1X9ZYu87xeZ33roB-47o5sZhI0wTL8qwIue/s640/Cayo_Ron_Reef.jpg" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayo Ron located 8 km off of Cabo Rojo and 13 km from Boqueron Bay (~250 acres)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Our goal for Saturday is to survey the reef like the image below. This entails dragging, pulling, or swimming a GPS around with volunteers while looking for debris. If and when we find debris we will mark it with a waypoint, log the type of debris, size, etc., then remove it. However, on Saturday we will be removing only the small debris such as clothing, fishing line, rope, etc. that is smothering the reef. Other large objects, so long as they have not become encrusted or overgrown with corals, will be lifted with lift bags and swam to an accessible sand area and left to be removed on the 3rd field day to Cayo Ron (to be announced) along with the large boat hull. Most of the survey work we will be doing will be confined to depths less than 15-20' deep. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtJ7XFFfdFdGrQQ6cQLCscibF9einNShkMKQe2AoSPEeaF9cIy-1PLCr5-4JsPcc504yT_AW_obrmgf4F7-Silrxv5ME41TdGOdt0OXX4evo6kE_KrD25Gb8S4LOUjsosji-SeIcO4zXa/s1600/survey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtJ7XFFfdFdGrQQ6cQLCscibF9einNShkMKQe2AoSPEeaF9cIy-1PLCr5-4JsPcc504yT_AW_obrmgf4F7-Silrxv5ME41TdGOdt0OXX4evo6kE_KrD25Gb8S4LOUjsosji-SeIcO4zXa/s320/survey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Survey of Reserva Marina Tres Palmas and adjacent areas (500 acres).</td></tr>
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Timeline of events<br />
<br />
715-730 am Participants arrive at <a href="http://www.monaaquatics.com/location.html">Monaquatics </a>(click the link for directions/location) <br />
<br />
730-745 am Day Briefing <br />
<br />
800 am Leave the dock<br />
<br />
830 am Arrive to Cayo Ron<br />
<br />
830-900 am Break into teams<br />
<br />
900-1100 am Dive 1<br />
<br />
11-1230 pm Lunch <br />
<br />
1-230 pm Dive 2 <br />
<br />
300 pm Leave for home<br />
<br />
330 pm Arrive at dock<br />
<br />
<u>Things to bring</u><br />
<br />
Sunscreen<br />
Sunglasses <br />
Snorkeling or Dive gear<br />
Lunch<br />
Water<br />
Rashguard or wetsuit<br />
$10 bucks for a tank if you have dive gear<br />
water camera <br />
<br />
Please be on time! <br />
<br />
Contact Wessley Merten at 787-436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information on helping out in this coral reef restoration and marine debris removal effort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-64329383724513114562011-08-06T07:30:00.005-04:002011-08-12T14:40:30.297-04:00Un Nuevo Proyecto de Desperdicios Marinos<a href="http://trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-marine-debris-removal-project-is.html">Click here</a> for english<br />
<br />
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<span class="longtext"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">Recientemente,
el capítulo de la Fundación Surfrider en Rincón recibió una subvención de la
Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA) Programa de Desechos
Marinos hacer otra proyecto de restauración de los arrecifes con la remoción de
desechos marinos en Puerto Rico. </span><span title="This is the third award that the Rincon chapter has received from NOAA since the first project in 2006.">Este es el tercer proyecto que
el capítulo de Rincón ha recibido de la NOAA hasta que el primer proyecto en
2006. </span><span title="That project, along with the second that was completed in 2008, removed more than 475 tires and alot of other items such as boat debris, cinderblocks, cable, and clothing that all negatively affected the health of the corals and other organisms within the Tres Palmas">Ese proyecto, junto con la
segunda, que se completó en 2008, eliminó más de 475 gomas y un montón de otros
desperdicios como partes de lanchas, bloques de cemento, cable, y la ropa que
todos los afectado negativamente a la salud de los corales y otros organismos
dentro de los Tres Palmas </span></span><span title="Marine Reserve.">la Reserva Marina. </span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span title="In total, 150 individual corals were saved from smothering and detrimental marine debris.">En total, 150 corales
individuales se salvaron de la asfixia y en detrimento de los desechos marinos.
</span><span title="Now, in 2011, the chapter is pleased to announce the title of its' third effort: Coral Reef Protection through Marine Debris Removal in 2 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas.">Ahora, en 2011, el capítulo se
complace en anunciar el título de su tercer trabajo: Protección de los
Arrecifes de Coral a través de eliminación de desechos marinos en dos Áreas
Marinas Protegidas (AMPs): Arrecifes de Tourmaline y Reserva Marina Tres
Palmas. </span></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4_mBbIHlzDCO8WQXLrSHXUjmA9jlYmGmsKySDUMMvUAXnYxiijSCb2jv8Yz-KBgPCBE-2ss2p_80gcKCClyi5LQZ8BVkPRpudBx-sGKr3pjg3xTVHw7UjTXEPzMnETRvmx2B2g0Fdx3d/s1600/cayo_ron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4_mBbIHlzDCO8WQXLrSHXUjmA9jlYmGmsKySDUMMvUAXnYxiijSCb2jv8Yz-KBgPCBE-2ss2p_80gcKCClyi5LQZ8BVkPRpudBx-sGKr3pjg3xTVHw7UjTXEPzMnETRvmx2B2g0Fdx3d/s640/cayo_ron.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="long_text" id="result_box" lang="es"><span class="hps">El sitio de estudio</span> <span class="hps">principal de este proyecto</span> <span class="hps">es</span> <span class="hps">Cayo</span> <span class="hps">Ron</span> <span class="hps">dentro de</span> <span class="hps">Arrecifes de</span> <span class="hps">Turmalina</span> <span class="hps atn">(</span><span class="">de</span> <span class="hps">Cabo Rojo</span>) <span class="hps">como se describe</span> <span class="hps">anteriormente.</span> <span class="hps">La imagen superior muestra</span> <span class="hps">Cayo</span> <span class="hps">de Ron</span>, la densidad de <span class="hps atn">cuerno de alce (</span><span class="">círculos de colores)</span><span class="">,</span> <span class="hps">y</span> <span class="hps">la ubicación de un</span> <span class="hps">gran</span> parte <span class="hps">de un barco</span> <span class="hps">(signos</span>) que se <span class="hps">corta en trozos</span> <span class="hps">y se retira. (Fig. M. Scharer and M. Nemeth)</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaGXsbIQGkoAPq3tZZL_7Kk4ENHZ8NOypJref03oBVJfhiVajq3A4Atw9SjNwtpkGOuCy-23R6osU5FDZwzjdu2IwjA7QYrU06w4p4EOX2Tb5YQPEGDubiZeeyMPGHGHvPEqQBsBnfVyf/s1600/RMTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaGXsbIQGkoAPq3tZZL_7Kk4ENHZ8NOypJref03oBVJfhiVajq3A4Atw9SjNwtpkGOuCy-23R6osU5FDZwzjdu2IwjA7QYrU06w4p4EOX2Tb5YQPEGDubiZeeyMPGHGHvPEqQBsBnfVyf/s640/RMTP.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="long_text" id="result_box" lang="es"><span class="hps">La figura anterior</span> <span class="hps">muestra</span> <span class="hps">el sitio de estudio</span> <span class="hps">secundario,</span> <span class="hps">RMTP</span> <span class="hps">(línea</span> <span class="hps">de color negro sólido</span>)<span class="">, los desechos</span> <span class="hps">marinos</span> <span class="hps">previamente marcados</span>, <span class="hps">y</span> <span class="hps">la extensión del proyecto</span> <span class="hps">indicado por la línea</span> <span class="hps">punteada</span> <span class="hps">negro</span>. <span class="hps">El recuadro</span> <span class="hps">muestra</span> <span class="hps">la densidad de</span> <span class="hps">coral cuerno de alce</span> <span class="hps">en</span> <span class="hps">RMTP</span><span class=""> (Fig. M. Scharer, M. Nemeth, and W.Merten).</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><br />
<span class="longtext"></span><span title="With this project, the chapter will expand the reef area surveyed and serviced (~750 acres), increase the amount of participating community volunteers and schools involved in the outreach and education, and work with the municipalities of Rincon, Anasco, and Cabo Rojo to">Con este proyecto, el capítulo
se ampliará la zona de arrecifes estudiados y atendidos (~ 750 acres), aumentar
la cantidad de voluntarios de la comunidad que participan y las escuelas que
participan en la difusión y la educación, y trabajar con los municipios de
Rincón, Añasco y Cabo Rojo para </span><span title="acheive the following objectives: restore and protect the health of Elkhorn coral reefs and other organisms by removing marine debris; initiate a marine debris prevention program through outreach and education by raising awareness about the importance of protecting reefs; prevent debris from entering the ocean by working">alcanzar los siguientes
objetivos: restaurar y proteger la salud de los arrecifes de coral de cuerno de
alce y otros organismos mediante la eliminación de los desechos marinos;
iniciar un programa de prevención de los desechos marinos mediante actividades
de divulgación y la educación; evitar que los desechos entren en el océano por
el trabajo </span><span title="with the municipalities of Rincon, Anasco, and Cabo Rojo to strengthen their recycling programs, establish an effective and consistent coastal trash pickup cycle, and to set standards for large activities that are conducted on beaches ie festivals, fishing tournaments, surfing competitions, and races">con los municipios de Rincón,
Añasco y Cabo Rojo para fortalecer sus programas de reciclaje, establecer un
sistema coherente del ciclo de la costa de recolección de basura, y establecer
normas para las actividades de gran tamaño que se llevan a cabo en las playas. Juntos, estos objetivos comprenden el
objetivo general del capítulo de mejorar el estado de la salud de los
ecosistemas de arrecifes de coral se producen a lo largo de la costa oeste de
Puerto Rico.</span><br />
<br />
</span><span title="To read a complete summary of the project click here.">Para leer un resumen completo
del proyecto, <a href="http://www.box.net/shared/b50p0mk7h0c2321i98yd">haga clic aquí</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="hps"><span lang="ES">El trabajo de campo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">contendrá</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">20 días</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en la lancha;</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> 5 </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">se llevará a cabo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">Cayo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">Ron</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">y 15</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en Rincón.</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">El trabajo de campo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">Cayo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">Ron</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">se iniciará</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en una semana.</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">El trabajo de campo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en Rincón</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">comenzará en octubre</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES">, </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">el tiempo lo permite</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES">. </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">Los buzos certificados</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">y</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">buzos</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">interesados deben
comunicarse con</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">el director del proyecto</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">para obtener información
sobre</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">cómo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">reservar un lugar</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">en la lancha por</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">uno de los</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES"> </span></span><span class="hps"><span lang="ES">días de campo</span></span><span class="longtext"><span lang="ES">.</span></span></div>
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<span class="longtext"></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span title="If you are interested in helping in this effort please feel free to contact the project manager, Wessley Merten, at (787) 436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information.">Si usted está interesado en
ayudar en este esfuerzo por favor comunicarse con el director del proyecto,
Wessley Merten, a (787) 436-8300 o wessley.merten upr.edu @ para más información.
</span><span title="We need volunteers to accompany us in the field locating and removing debris, helping to install coastal trash cans, painting recycling bins and containers with students, and increasing the awareness about protecting our precious local resources.">Necesitamos voluntarios que nos
acompañan en el campo para el localización y eliminación de los desperdicios,
ayudar en la installoción de zafacones a
la costera, la pintura contenedores de reciclaje con los estudiantes, y
aumentar la conciencia sobre la protección de nuestros recursos locales
preciosos.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5598498242840343915.post-22553995283660045512011-08-06T07:21:00.007-04:002011-08-12T14:40:49.545-04:00A New Marine Debris Removal Project is Initiated<a href="http://trespalmascoral.blogspot.com/2011/08/un-neuvo-proyecto-de-desperdicios.html">Haga clic aqui</a> para espanol <br />
<br />
Recently, the chapter of the Surfrider Foundation in Rincon was awarded a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program to spearhead another coral reef restoration and marine debris removal project in Puerto Rico. This is the third award that the Rincon chapter has received from NOAA since the first project was undertaken in 2006. That project, along with the second that was completed in 2008, removed more than 475 tires and copious amounts of other items such as derelict boat debris, cinderblocks, cable, and clothing that all negatively affected the health of the corals and other organisms within the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. In total, 150 individual corals were liberated of the smothering and detrimental marine debris. Now, in 2011, the chapter is pleased to announce the title of its' third effort: Coral Reef Protection through Marine Debris Removal in 2 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Arrecifes de Tourmaline and Reserva Marina Tres Palmas.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdq4QIswMjdPGW-OvX_e4KCxu11sGSDHZ_uHMohb_0hYDxD9xe7ut-Pjt0x6Bv4i2He45GTu920uKtBYES6dumZsmJkpV9vU0ezu7fAdThLJhiKokSS3UiVF3MO2hjY2aQhZr42N9THDs/s1600/cayo_ron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdq4QIswMjdPGW-OvX_e4KCxu11sGSDHZ_uHMohb_0hYDxD9xe7ut-Pjt0x6Bv4i2He45GTu920uKtBYES6dumZsmJkpV9vU0ezu7fAdThLJhiKokSS3UiVF3MO2hjY2aQhZr42N9THDs/s640/cayo_ron.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The primary study site of this project is Cayo Ron within Arrecifes de Tourmaline (off Cabo Rojo) as depicted above. The top image shows Cayo Ron, Elkhorn densities (colored circles), and the location of a large hull of a vessel (plus signs) that will be cut into pieces and removed. (Figure M. Scharer and M. Nemeth)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEau5Af4XZIIpdVJw-0B86-UwIatGinksP6a0q4pdex39hewpJHLbJ4eCRqL3Yhe7Ggtiz2KcZx9vr5WG2BgNAcYXLMb3wBlWLXTmEvwxlJqK4JDbmUtyHkdYn0Ot7mnQo1a4SGk9B6rp2/s1600/RMTP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEau5Af4XZIIpdVJw-0B86-UwIatGinksP6a0q4pdex39hewpJHLbJ4eCRqL3Yhe7Ggtiz2KcZx9vr5WG2BgNAcYXLMb3wBlWLXTmEvwxlJqK4JDbmUtyHkdYn0Ot7mnQo1a4SGk9B6rp2/s640/RMTP.jpg" width="435" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The figure above depicts the secondary study site, RMTP (solid black line), previously marked marine debris, and the project extension indicated by the dotted black line. The inset depicts the density of Elkhorn coral within RMTP. (RMTP Fiqure: M. Scharer, M. Nemeth, and W. Merten)</td></tr>
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With this project, the chapter will expand the reef area surveyed and serviced (~750 acres), increase the amount of participating community volunteers and schools involved in the outreach and education, and work with the municipalities of Rincon, Anasco, and Cabo Rojo to acheive the following objectives: restore and protect the health of Elkhorn coral dominated
reef systems and associated organisms by removing large amounts of
non-re-accumulating marine debris; initiate a strong marine
debris prevention program through outreach and education by raising awareness about
the importance of protecting reefs, the link between land-based activities and
the health of the reefs, and how our
everyday actions can have a direct impact on reef health; prevent debris from entering the ocean by<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> working with the aforementioned municipalities to strengthen their
recycling programs, establish an effective and consistent coastal trash
pickup cycle, and to set standards to abide by when large activities are
conducted on municipal beaches i.e. festivals, fishing tournaments, surfing
competitions, and races such as triathlons that consistently occur in these
areas. Together, these objectives comprise the chapter's overall goal of improving the state of the health of the coral reef ecosystems occurring along the west coast of Puerto Rico. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To read a more comprehensive summary of the project <a href="http://www.box.net/shared/b50p0mk7h0c2321i98yd">click here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The field work will be comprised of 20 boat days; 5 will be conducted at Cayo Ron and 15 in Rincon. Field work at Cayo Ron will begin as soon as possible where the reef will be surveyed and the debris will be removed prior to arrival of any large storms. The field work in Rincon will begin in October, weather permitting. Certified divers and interested snorkelers should contact the project manager for details on how to reserve a spot on the boat for one of the field days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If you are interested in helping in this effort please feel free to contact the project manager, </span>Wessley Merten, at (787) 436-8300 or wessley.merten@upr.edu for more information. We need volunteers to accompany us in the field locating and removing debris, helping to install coastal trash cans, painting recycling bins and containers with students, and increasing the awareness about protecting our precious local resources. <br />
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