An experimental project to test different methods that favor the reproduction and growth of corals implemented, since 2020, a “nursery” in Bahía Academia, located in Santa Cruz, in order to contribute to the restoration of one of the most fragile marine ecosystems that exist. The project is in charge of the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park (DPNG) of the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (Maate), with financial support from the Galapagos Conservancy.
Since the nursery was installed, park rangers together with volunteers have applied different techniques to reproduce different species of corals. The researchers used bricks, cement wafers (discs), low beds, high beds, and a string system to determine the most efficient method of growing corals.
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One of the results achieved is the planting in Punta Estrada of 14 coral fragments that remained for a year in the nursery, where DPNG technicians and volunteers constantly monitored the growth process.
“The area of the nursery has presented favorable changes with the presence of corals, such as the appearance of new fish and invertebrates colonizing the area,” said Jenifer Suárez, the project’s leading park ranger.
According to Maate, the number of fragments by species in the nursery is increasing with the aim of transplanting them to the restoration site when they have reached the size that allows them to survive. A system was also installed to measure physical parameters such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature, which are essential to understand the health of corals.
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Danny Rueda, director of the Galapagos National Park, stated that the pilot project “will regenerate areas of great ecological value in the Galapagos Marine Reserve for the benefit of ecosystems and local productive sectors, considering that El Niño weather events in the archipelago They have brought corals almost to the brink of extinction.” (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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