By Felix Charnley | Project Consultant
PROTECT
Over the last six months, our fisher-cum-warden patrol team has joined forces with the Marine Police Ocho Rios division. This collaboration has majorly helped to structure our patrols and seen improved enforcement results. Currently, there are six court proceedings against repeat offenders, which serves as a deterrent for others.
In recent months, although our patrols are taken more seriously, funds to support our warden program have dried up completely, save for the occasional donations our generous and loyal supporters make here on GlobalGiving. As a result, we have had no choice but to temporarily suspend our patrols. This will result in increased violation of the no-take zone and counteract our progress.
While we wait for some form of cooperation from government or large donors, our fisher/warden work force continues to make repairs to boundary markers and support our coral reef restoration team, making use of every one of these opportunities to maintain a presence in our MPA's waters.
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RESTORE
Having mapped more than one tenth of Jamaica's coastline in search of corals to have survived last year's mass die off, we have recommenced nursery work in the Ocho Rios Marine Park. Between our 2 new repositories, we are now housing close to one thousand ramets of our critically endangered target species from across 50 different lineages. This is groundbreaking for the region and the start of the first adaptation based gene banking effort for climate change resilient corals in Jamaica.
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ENGAGE
This year, we have so far engaged three local schools in our environmental education program – MarJam Prep, Pimento International Academy and Newstead Primary. The program has covered topics ranging from Jamaica’s major coastal ecosystems and their importance, marine wildlife and pollution.
This quarter we are gearing up to combat pollution through eliciting environmental stewardship over the upper watershed of the White River on behalf of its adjacent communities. We look forward to providing the opportunity to as many residents as possible to take part in our underwater activities and develop a relationship with what happens downstream.
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Every donation, big or small, is a step towards helping us back on our feet so once again, we couldn't do it without you.
The team at WRFS
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