Last week, Reef Brief covered the
importance of biodiversity and reasons why the coral reef should be
protected and preserved. In addition to a number of other benefits, reefs
provide a rich environment that attracts a multitude of plants and
animals, creating an ecosystem that is very high in biodiversity.
Unfortunately, this productive environment is also very fragile and in
the last few years has become increasingly susceptible to threats, such
as pollution, changes in global climate, and direct degradation-all of
which decrease the biodiversity of the reef ecosystem. To counteract the
damage facing the coral reef ecosystem, the San Pedro Tour Guide
Association (SPTGA) began the Habitat Enhancement Project, deploying
artificial reef structures, known as reef balls.
If you've been around since last fall,
when the project began, you've probably noticed the odd looking cement
structures marked with Swiss cheese-like holes, located on the north end
of Front Street. These are reef balls, created by filling molds with a
cement mixture. After one day, the molds are removed and sprayed down
with water so that gravel can be exposed. This gravel allows algae and
soft coral to grow more easily on the surface of the reef ball. After
completely drying for 28 days, the reef balls are deployed in an area
known as Slackchwe, located on the leeward side of Ambergris Caye, along
the northern point of Cayo Espanto. Creating the reef balls requires
two-three people to complete and thus far, the SPTGA has successfully
deployed 30 reef balls. Ultimately, the SPTGA hopes to deploy a total of
50 reef balls, placing them in areas where marine biodiversity is low or
where fish stocks have diminished. An additional component of the project
involves community awareness and education; the SPTGA has recruited
students from the primary schools to participate in the mixing, filling,
and deploying of the reef balls. The concept behind the Habitat
Enhancement Project is not particularly new. Long ago, fisherman on
Ambergris Caye used traditional devices, known as ramas, to attract fish
populations to specific sites. Ramas were first constructed of mangrove
branches and other vegetation, and later vehicle parts were used. In the
marine environment, where the rate of oxidation is high, these materials
tend to decay relatively quickly. An alternative material, needed to be
found and reef balls, constructed of cement and in use around the world,
seemed like the answer.
Reef balls are essentially artificial reef structures
that mimic a natural reef system, almost immediately attracting fish and
many other marine species because of the protective habitat the
structures provide. The SPTGA hopes that the reef balls located along the
Slackchwe area will eventually provide an alternative location for guide
and recreational fishing, relieving the fishing pressure on the natural
reef. In addition, the SPTGA has already received requests from local
resorts that are interested in deploying reef balls near their piers to
attract fish and other marine species to the area. Another aspect of
these artificial reef structures is that over time algae and coral begin
to grow on the reef ball surface, further enhancing the biodiversity of
the environment. Thus, the SPTGA plans to deploy reef balls along
portions of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where the reef is either
threatened or damaged.
It is direct action, such as that taken by the SPTGA,
that is making a difference in protecting our environment. The SPTGA is
always looking for volunteers-those interested can show up at the reef
ball construction site (located on the north end of Front Street) on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m.
If you have a topic you would like featured in Reef
Brief, please call 2833, write [email protected].
|