No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeInnovative Coral Restoration Effort on Tortuga Island in Costa Rica

Innovative Coral Restoration Effort on Tortuga Island in Costa Rica

In order to protect, restore, and revitalize the marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Nicoya, a total of 1,050 coral fragments have been cultivated on Tortuga Island from June to September. The initiative, led by the State Distance University (UNED) Puntarenas branch and the Nautical Fishing Center of the National Learning Institute (INA), is part of the macro project, “Feasibility of the Ecological Restoration of Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Nicoya through Coral Reef Gardening in 2024.”

This collaborative initiative, called “coral reef gardening,” aims to restore coral reefs, generating significant benefits for the environment, tourism, and the economic vitality of coastal populations. The coral gardening methodology, based on recent scientific research, includes the use of specially designed structures to maximize the growth and survival of transplanted corals.

Among the structures used in coral nurseries (gardening) are spider, clothesline, and tree structures. These are assembled on the seabed by means of anchors, remaining suspended in the water column about 5m/20 feet from the surface.

Rodolfo Vargas, a researcher at INA’s Nautical Fishing Nucleus and a coral reef gardening specialist, emphasized that the technique accelerates coral growth, increasing resilience and enabling maturity in just one year, compared to the natural rate of 2.5 cm annually.

“This effort not only benefits marine biodiversity but also has the potential to transform Isla Tortuga and the surrounding area through a sustainable tourism model,” he said. He also mentioned that this technique is crucial for restoring coral reefs degraded by anthropogenic or natural factors.

Currently, the approximate volume of coral planted on Tortuga Island is 9,745.51 cm³, a positive figure indicating significant recovery of the coral and fish population in the area.

Sedimentation, pollution, and overexploitation of resources are some of the main causes of coral reef degradation in the Gulf of Nicoya. Against this backdrop, reef restoration on Tortuga Island is a crucial step to mitigate these impacts and ensure the health of marine ecosystems for future generations.

Coral reefs are essential for marine biodiversity and coastal protection. In Costa Rica, 77% of these ecosystems face serious threats, mainly due to human activity.

Trending Now

Chiquita Executives Convicted in Colombia for Financing Death Squads

Colombian justice on Wednesday sentenced seven former executives of the multinational banana company Chiquita Brands to more than 11 years in prison and a...

Costa Rica Tops Latin America in Attracting Foreign Millionaires

Costa Rica is a country that attracts millionaires. Projections indicate that by the end of 2025, a total of 350 foreign millionaires will have...

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Park Reopening to Tourists With Safety Measures

The Poás Volcano National Park will reopen its doors to tourism starting July 30, after  scientific entities reported a decrease in volcanic activity. This was...

Costa Rica’s PPSO Backs Laura Fernández to Continue Rodrigo Chaves’s Agenda

Former Minister of Economy Francisco Gamboa and attorney Douglas Soto will join Laura Fernández for the 2026 elections, representing the Sovereign People’s Party (PPSO),...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

El Salvador Retries Environmentalists Over 1989 Wartime Killing

A new trial against five Salvadoran environmentalists, accused of murdering a woman in 1989 during the civil war, will take place on Tuesday, announced...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica