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Coral Reef Research and Monitoring Program
In 1994 CEA and Cornell University’s Center for the Environment began a long-term monitoring program at Akumal to provide baseline data of Akumal’s coral reefs.
Some Important facts about our coral reefs
· The corals are fragile animals.
· Coral reefs are millions of years old.
· Corals grow very slowly, some no more than 1-2 cm. per year. Under normal conditions
· Coral reefs grow in clear,
nutrient-free, tropical waters.
· The coral reefs act as natural barriers along the coast protecting it from erosion and storms.
· The coral reef is the principal habitat and nursery for more than 2,500
species of fish and other animals.
· The coral reefs of the Méxican Caribbean are part of the second longest barrier reef in the world, more than 500 kilometers long.
Ways you can help preserve our coral reefs
· Please take only your memories and not anything dead or alive from the sea.
· A touch, a step, or a kick with your fins will damage and may kill the corals.
· Kicking sand with your fins near the corals may cover them with sediment and they will suffocate.
· Akumal is a community-protected area and it is prohibited to fish with a spear gun.
· Please do not buy, take from the sea or eat conch; it is a species in danger of extinction.
· Be selective when you are ordering or buying fish
Monitoring of coral reef health and diversity by Cornell Tropical Marine Science Course every summer since 1994. Studies also have been conducted on fish diversity and abundance by UAM graduate students in addition to studies of algal mats overtaking parts of the coral reefs by Roshan Roy from the University of Texas and Isaac Razo from CINVESTAV, Merida. The coral reefs at Akumal are showing serious signs of degradation.
Kate Robinhawk has made an extensive survey of the scientific literature for the past 6 years. This has included the emerging infectious diseases that tourist areas are more vulnerable to. In addition, Kate has studied many research papers on the pressures that are causing the demise of coral reefs worldwide
From the literature the folowing pressures emerge as the leading causes of coral reef damage and death the world over. Hurricanes and tropical storms are naturally occurring phenomena and up until very recently the coral reefs appeared to recover from most damage by storms. Terrestrial sedimentation does not appear to be a problem here at Akumal, if the clarity of the groundwater when it enters the sea is any indication.
Over fishing and pollution however, do exist at Akumal and the coral reefs are exhibiting negative reactions to the pressures.
Algae growth is rampant, on the reefs there is 13 to 17% live coral coverage. In the bays there is perhaps 3-5%. Much of the dead corals are covered in algae preventing the recruitment of new coral polyps.
Over-fishing has proven to be a serious problem for coral reefs worldwide. As the population of Quintana Roo has grown from 30,000 in 1950, to 874,000 and 4 million tourists in 2001, the demand for fresh fish has grown commensurately. This has placed a heavy burden on the reefs. Loss of predators and herbivores, coupled with the Diadema (long spiny sea urchin) die-out of 1984, places the coral reefs in jeopardy. So, given the results of our research, CEA has turned most of its attention to finding solutions to the problems of pollution and over-fishing. Jamaica could be used as a good model to study and understand the dynamics of algal growth on the health of coral reefs.
In keeping with the CEA Program Mission, to eliminate the contamination of the groundwater from human-generated wastes, CEA has researched, built and tested created wetlands and composting toilets. These advanced waste treatment systems prevent any contamination from reaching the ground water. In this way, the health of the residents, tourists and coral reefs can be protected.
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