Week 2 continues to be a busy week for the Coral Ed team as we are now in full research mode, with three field research projects. Due to high winds around 20 mph early on this week, we started research week with two of the three research projects. Mandy, Abby, Sabrina, and Dana assisted with mangrove propagule surveys near the Belizean Estates, while Jasmine and Emily helped with climate change and coastal erosion surveys using drone imagery (Image 1) and interviews with local business owners here in San Pedro.
Image 1: Jasmine and Emily aiding Smith College postBac fellow Scott Gilman fly drones on the north side of the island.
As the week has progressed the wind speeds dropped and allowed our team to start the third project of underwater research at the Mexico Rocks patch reef complex (Image 2). We are hopeful that the weather does not change too much so that we can complete all the research projects that we have started.
Image 2: (L -> R) Mandy, Abby, Dana and Sabrina coming in for a group picture at the beginning of the dive before data collection started.
In other Coral Ed news, our team met with Mr. Vasquez, the Principal at the San Pedro High School, to confirm that we could use the school for the second year in a row for camp. Mr. Vasquez expressed how much he appreciates what our program has done here for the San Pedro community over the years and is more than willing to help accommodate us for the program. As previously mentioned, we’ve been busy advertising for our camps by performing skits to the students in local schools. In addition, we’ve advertised by recording a radio ad that is aired on a local station called Lighthouse Radio, as well as a live-tv segment on Good Morning San Pedro (Image 3).
Image 3: Sabrina and Mandy made a guest appearance on Good Morning San Pedro and spoke about the details of the camp with Aiden, the host of Good Morning San Pedro tv segment.
Yesterday was the opening of lobster season and many of the island’s fishermen have left at 4:30 AM to pull up their lobster traps to bring it back for lunchtime specials. The new Coral Ed girls eagerly await for their first taste of Belizean lobsters!
-Mandy Castro and the Coral Ed team