Coral Fincas on Playa Soldado

These photos feature a coral restoration technique developed in Puerto Rico by local marine biologists. The technique uses stabilizers seen in these photos to propogate coral fragments for tranplant to natural reef. The platforms seen in the photos below are collectively called by the local name coral finca or coral farm. This method has allowed the scientists to investigate disease, and investigate clone specific immunity of certain fragments. The photos in this project feature two species of corals (Acropora cervicornis and Acropora prolifera) that are now candidates for the endangered species list. Once predominant reef building corals in the Caribbean, these species have undergone an historically unprecedented decline. There has been an 80% loss in Caribbean acroporid corals over the past three decades. Coral disease and predation linked to coastal water pollution and overfishing of reef fish have been implicated. Tragically, these are preventable human impacts, but regulation has proven inadequate. Impacts from development that results in coastal runoff of sediment contaminating coastal waters, although illegal, continue causing irrepairable harm unenforced.The photos below show a coral farm created and monitored by Dr. Edwin Hernandez Delgado just off of Playa Soldado on the island of Culebra. Project partners include La Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra (The Commercial Fishermen's Association of Culebra) and CORALations. The Finca concept was originally developed by Antonio Ortiz of ReefScaping in Puerto Rico.

Heading out to plant fincas. Here the Brutus is underway to Culebrita were fragments of coral were collected. Wild fragments of staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) , now a candidate endangered species, were taken to plant on the coral fincas established offshore Playa Soldado.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

For it was said by Capt. Barry, who you can't see very well in this photo: "Go forth, my children and bring corals back to Brutus..and there will be much rejoicing."
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Edwin hands the HOLY GRAIL full of fragments up to the boat.
PHOTO BY MARY ANN LUCKING

Ivan stashes the corals in the cooler for transport from Culebrita to Soldado
PHOTO BY MARY ANN LUCKING

The ACE Novelty Company Coral Transport Cooler......hey wait just a minute, where are we gonna put the cervezas?
PHOTO BY MARY ANN LUCKING

This is the coral transport cooler. Water is pumped through the lid and keeps the coral fragments moist and cool.
PHOTO BY MARY ANN LUCKING

C a r e f u l l.........
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Ivan and Mary Ann shamelessy tie up their coral clones. Hey, isn't it truly amazing how an organisms that large can be so bouyant!
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Shamelessly and without the slightest hesitation, Deana Martino ties her clones to the finca.
Now it's all over the internet. Her poor parents!
PHOTO SHAMELESSLY TAKEN BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Tie your fragment down...tie your fragment down..these guys must be securely attached to remain happy. They should also face up with the top being the pointed white area of new growth. If you point them down, then they grow down. Unlike people, these corals are much happier when they grow up.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Look carfully for the transparent little new recruits hovering over the tranplants.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Measuring Measuring Measuring....I'll take the cervicornis...who wants the prolifera?
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNADEZ DELGADO

Measuring Measuring Measuring....
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Clipping off the extra strap from the new transplants.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Inside Out....Underwater coral farm...
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Scientists measure fragments on the coral farm.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO

Fincas planted and left to grow.
PHOTO BY EDWIN HERNANDEZ DELGADO