Coral Bleaching in Cozumel

According to the director of the Cozumel Marine Park, Ricardo Gomez Lozano, coral bleaching of the reef in Cozumel has improved. Only 2% of the reef is being affected by this coral disease compared to 30% six years ago. Many scientists agree that the coral’s ability to adapt to the environmental effects resulting from climate change depends on the severity of other human stresses such as coastal development, over fishing, oil discharge, and dumping of garbage. Some natural occurrences that can also negatively affect coral reefs are global climate change, hurricanes, and disease.

Mr. Gomez mentioned that coral reefs live in an average water temperature of between 77 and 85 degrees, and when the temperature increases 5 degrees or more for a period of three consecutive days, the coral begins to show color changes. This is coral bleaching.

Evidence suggests that the zooanthellae present in corals can recover and regain color within several months if the coral bleaching event is not severe. Otherwise, the coral dies. Multiple bleaching events in the Caribbean over the last several decades have resulted in widespread damage to reef-building corals and thus, decline in reef condition.

Mr. Gomez also commented that the coral reef improvement over the years can be attributed to climate changes. He suggests that continued preservation of the reef in Cozumel will include constant monitoring and control of tourist groups brought to affected areas, prevention of continued coastal development, and the prohibition of dumping garbage into our oceans.

By Jorge E. Gonzalez at http://www.mexicandiver.com/
Photo Cortesy of NOAA

Mexicandiver Underwater Digital Fiesta! Cozumel 2011

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Greenpeace visited Cozumel

The Greenpeace vessel “Arctic Sunrise”, visited the island from November 27-December 2, 2010 to promote the danger of the global warming and its effects. The vessel was opened to the public, and many people from Cozumel and the Maya Riviera were able to take a tour on board of one of the popular vessels that according to Greenpeace this vessel began its Greenpeace life during the "Brent Spar" campaign where it was used to prevent dumping oil installations at sea.

There was a minor incident with some people from Cancun that arrive to the island with a baby tiger and they wanted to take a tour but the representative from Greenpeace didn’t allow entering the vessel. The staff was very upset and they were concerned that people continue to have wild animals as pets instead of protecting them.

To learn more about Greenpeace visit: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/

By Jorge Gonzalez
www.mexicandiver.com

DEMA SHOW 2010 COVERAGE

Las Vegas, November 17, 2010


Our first day at DEMA show 2010 in Las Vegas was and exited and busy day, walking through many exhibitors from all over the world introducing their new products and services was a very interesting tour. We began our walk at the Mexico pavilion were many representatives from hotel and dive shops from Cozumel and the Mayan Riviera gather to promote their business. We visited our old friend Apple from Dive Paradise.

It was very impressive and captivated the new design housing models for Sigma cameras and Sony cameras. Mr. Yamamoto president and designer of Aquapazza was introducing for the first time a new housing product that which include a magnetic mechanism that is used as lens gear.

The coverage of DEMA show 2010 will continue.

Mexico’s first Regional Lionfish Strategy Workshop

AUGUST 25 - 28, 2010.
More than 30 representatives of different countries such as Jamaica, Cuba, Belize, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Netherlands Antilles, Martinique, Bonaire, Cayman Island, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Bermuda, Venezuela, Canada, and Mexico, as well specialists from Mexico Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (CONAPESCA), Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), and the National Institute of Ecology, participated at the Regional Lionfish Strategy Workshop celebrated in Cancun, Mexico.

During the general assembly of the International Initiative for Coral Reef Initiative in January, was created a committee with the purpose to develop strategies to help the control of lionfish in the Caribbean and Cancun was chosen to become the venue of the Regional Lionfish Strategy Workshop hosted and chaired by Mexican National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, (SEMARNAT), and Coral Reef Conservation Program (NOAA).

In this event they discussed different strategies such as establish the basis for the generation of species information, identify local and national strategies to control invasive lionfish, Develop effective communication tools to reach out to local communities so they can address the consequences of these invasions, and plan activities and policies across the region for the control, traffic, import, export and marketing of invasive species.

Story by. Jorge E. Gonzalez
Photo cortesy of Parque Marino de Cozumel.

Second Lionfish Fishing Tournament

Cozumel, May 2010, - Ricardo Gomez Lozano, Director of the Marine Park in Cozumel, stated that after a successful fishing tournament event last February,( a record number of 115 Lionfish caught) , there would be a second Lionfish fishing tournament scheduled for May 30, 2010. This tournament will be one of the many efforts made to keep fighting the island’s fast growing population of Lionfish. There will be many monetary prizes and a demonstration of the different ways that lionfish can be cooked.

Picture by Jorge Marino

IRON-MAN Cozumel 2009

History has been written, Cozumel witness the first IRON-MAN ever celebrated in Mexico. More than 2000 athletes from around the world participated on this event. After a swim of 2.4 miles, a bike run of 112 miles, and a marathon run of 26.2 miles the IRON-MAN Cozumel 2009 concluded.

BEKE, RUTGER from Belgium was the winner with a time of 8hrs. 18 minutes, and 40 seconds. Let me mention that the Mexican athletes where among the top ten on this competition. ALLAN, VILLANUEVA from Mexico came on 7th place, with a time of 9hrs. 1minute, and 10 seconds.

Congratulations Cozumel for a well organized event.