Monthly Archives: July 2012

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Water Samples to the Lab

Water Samples to the Lab

The SeaVibe Club has sent 6 water samples to Monterey Bay Analytical Labs from our fieldwork in Treasure Beach. The labs will test for levels of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, nickel, aluminum, copper, and fluoride. Let’s hope for good results!

Thank you Monterey Bay Analytical for donating your time and resources to help with this project!

SeaVibe volunteers have been busy compiling the results from our water quality field labs to share with everyone. Students performed water quality tests from 12 sites in the Treasure Beach area, testing for nitrates, phosphates, coliform, eColi, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and other tests.

We worked hand-in-hand with the Galleon Fish Sanctuary Wardens to train them to conduct ongoing tests to monitor the changes in the sanctuary. Students at Sandy Bank Primary School participated in training while conducting water tests at their school. Many youth in the community heard of our work and joined us in the field. The training will allow youth and community members in Jamaica to continue testing their water sources over the next year.

The Treasure Beach Women’s Center is storing the test kits. They are available for check-out to any community member interested in water quality testing.

Stay tuned for results of these and other results from this field study!

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Galleon Beach Marine Sanctuary

The SeaVibe group visiting and water testing at the latest addition to Jamaica’s National Marine Sanctuary system.  This sanctuary includes sandy beach and sea floor, coral reef, and mangrove habitats.  Fishing is not permitted within the sanctuary boundaries, and this protection allows these three vital habitats to function as the natural “nurseries” that they are for a wide variety of marine life.  Local fisherman are already seeing the benefits of protecting some of these critical habitats.  Larger fish and more fish in general are being caught as a result of what’s called spillover in the waters surrounding the sanctuary.   Three types of sea turtles are making a significant comeback as a result of this protected area and sanctuary patrol staff oversight.  Some of the fresh water near the sea gets its reddish brown color from the red mangroves.  

 The goal is to create a series or string of marine protected areas around the island, much like a necklace, that will enhance and ensure future productivity in the surrounding waters. ImageImageImageImageImage         

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Video: Sea Turtle Monitoring

Sea turtles are just starting to come ashore to lay eggs. Carvel, a local turtle researcher picked us up at 6AM headed for Billy’s Bay. There, we discovered four new nests with fresh eggs laid last night, one nest from last year, as well as brightly colored mating insects, soldier crabs, and native fruits that filled our bellies with sugary surprises.