|
Reef Damage
On 04/20/03, Vone Research continued monitoring the coral
restoration project. First we planned to dive the area that Capt Schmidt gave
us coordiates for. The coordinates are very close to the area we reported on
12/22/02. This area is 200' west of sight # 1. We were getting ready to dive
this location, when we spotted the buoys placed by Capt. Schmidt. They were
approximately 235' away . Due to heavy seas, we could not relocate the buoys.
We decided to dive the area just west of site #1 . We found the dredge teeth
were still there. My guess there are about 30. Due to poor visibility, we
didn't find the damage that Capt. Schmidt reported. We believe the area is a
new area or a newly discovered old area. Next we dove sight # 1. The hard
coral in this area is doing well. I don't recall seeing any soft coral
attachments. More of the sponge bases previously regenerating are now dead. We
found a hard coral not yet stablized or marked .
|
|
|