Discussing the Environment of Negril

In a 2009 visit to Jamaica
From left to right: Jackie Liederman, Harry Miller, Les Kaufman, Kevin Harvey, Judith Lang and Tami Wallis Photographer Aaron Land
Complimentary Accommodations were provided by Catcha Falling Star Resort.

Coral Reef monitoring in Negril

Coral Reef Monitoring component

Boosting Biodiversity in Negril Coral Reef through Community Recycling and Environmental Education Project

(BioBoost Negril Recycling Project)

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Small Grants Project (SGP) has provided funding for a community recycling project aimed at boosting biodiversity in Negril Coral Reef through community recycling and Environmental education. The project is the brainchild of the Negril Recycling Center and is facilitated by the Negril Chamber of Commerce. Other partners in the project includes; Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS), Negril Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT), Local Schools and the Theodore Foundation.

The Project has two main components; land based collection and recycling of plastic and Marine Species monitoring. Mr. Peter Reid, Manager of the Negril Recycling Center is the overall Project Manager. The Marine Species monitoring component is managed and coordinated by Mr. Kevin Harvey of Reefs Consultants (Rejuvenation of Ecological and Economic Foundations in Society).

The fishermen from the Negril area welcomed the opportunity provided by the project to Scuba train and certify five of them as open water padi scuba divers. Through the project the fishermen are now fully trained and will be participating in regular joint under water cleanup and Coral Reef Monitoring with the NCRPS Marine Parks Rangers and Reefs Consultants team.

As a part of this year’s Earth day activity the project sponsored the cleanup of the Fishing Beach at the South Negril River (Break Water), which is where these fishermen operate from. Some sixty fisher folks turned out, many students were brought in by NCRPS to participate in what could best be described as a successful one-day massive cleanup initiative.

Over the next few month running up to December NCRPS, the five fishermen and the Reefs Consultants divers will continue to conduct Coral Reef monitoring and underwater cleanup.

Five project sites have been selected from Ricks Café in the South West to the Booby Cay in the North West. These sites are used for conducting water quality monitoring, Coral Reef and other marine species monitoring and under water cleanup. In total all five-project sites cover an area of over 10461.1 Square Meters. Each site is mapped using GIS Coordinates and is videoed on each dive. The data collected has been documented and is being analyzed and will be made public at the end of the project in December.

In the Above Photo The Project Team is seen in Training under the Bio-Boost Negril Recycling project – Back on Land after their first open water scuba diving training in the Ocean. (Venue - West Ender Inn)

From Left to Right:

Dennis Evans – Treasurer Negril Fishermen’s Corporative

David Baggoo – Aspiring Marine Biologist

Kevin Harvey- Reefs Consultants (Project Manager)

Roy Casco – Fisherman

Domenico Hines – Fisherman

Norman Baggoo – Dive Instructor

Glenroy Allen - Fisherman

Written by: Kevin Harvey