March 1,2003

On 03/01/03, Vone Research continued monitoring the coral restoration project. First we had to do the quarterly inspection of the mooring buoy. Vone Research members are all registered diving volunteers of Boward. On this inspection we had the rare pleasure of seeing three juvenile turtles. Then we dove area #58. After an extensive search we found two areas of damage. The first area had 2 sponges with minor damage and one small coral overturned. The second area had one sponge damaged. If this is in fact the damage found by CSI in their video survey then we are truly impressed. However, we don't have the information to collaborate their findings. The next area we dove was originally located by Frank Schmidt. It is obvious to us that this is an anchor drag which has nothing to do with the Hillsboro Inlet district restoration project. It is located south of area #9 at 26 15.874 N 80 04.278 W in 40' of water. We have filed a permit with the state of Florida to repair this area. The next area we dove was area #27. Little work has been done here. Nothing has been stabilized and several hard coals are still upside down. This area is small in comparison with other areas. It has approximately 20 hard corals and 18 soft corals. The barrel sponges that were sheered off at their base are nowhere to be found. The bases,however, are regenerating quite well.