Projects
Reef Check
2014
Two 100-foot long transects were made. This is the first Reef Check analysis at Isla Verde and was produced by OPAS for the Blue Flag Program that adjoins the Marine Reserve.
2015
This is the second Reef Check analysis at Isla Verde and was produced by OPAS for the Blue Flag Program that adjoins the Marine Reserve.
Study on sea fans, “Scraping and extirpating: two strategies to induce recovery of diseased Gorgonia ventalina sea fans”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Scraping and extirpating: two strategies to induce recovery of diseased Gorgonia ventalina sea fans Claudia Patricia Ruiz Diaz, Carlos Toledo Hernandez, Alex E. Mercado Molina and Alberto M. Sabat. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Rıo Piedras, Puerto Rico Marine Environment Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2016
In mid-July some organisms that looked like fiberglass arrived on our beach. It turned out that these are little snails in the form of needles. In the photo on the right you can see a spiral belly and they also moved, going around in a spiral.
These pteropods are rarely seen on the shore. We thank Dr. Edgardo Ortiz, for the education with the identification of this organism. Also to Carlos Diez and Robert Matos, thank you very much.
2017 (Hurricane Maria)
Two 100 meter long transects were made. This is the fourth Reef Check analysis at Isla Verde and was produced by OPAS for the Blue Flag Program that adjoins the Marine Reserve.
After September 20, 2017 until now we have only been able to enter the water only once. First it was because of the polluted waters and now because of the waves. We observed a lot of turbidity and macroalgae everywhere. One of the colonies Acropora palmata survived without fragmenting, we didn't have time to find the other colonies. We will be carrying out a post-María Reef Check as soon as the sea allows us.
2018
We already have 5 assessments carried out to get an idea of how the reef is changing after 6 years of protection.
2019
We carried out the sixth evaluation in the two transepts of 100 meters each. Thanks to OPAS for the production of this important evaluation.
Corals in the Isla Verde Reef
Hit by a boat, we found these fragments in the summer of 2017. They were embedded in the crevices and hit, you can see the result.
This year there was coral bleaching and on our last dive of the year on October 7th we took these photos. We have not returned due to the sea conditions but as soon as we can we will make an evaluation to see if they have recovered. The water temperature in October was 29.7 Centigrade, and for January it gave us 26.5.
