Education and Monitoring
In 2003 and 2004 Cedar School students have enthusiastically raised funding for ARK, and we used these funds to help create the Cedar School Marine Monitoring Program. Certain classes from Cedar School began by surveying coquina (Donax variabilis) populations on Cane Garden Bay beach, looking at distribution of these small beach clams at different moon phases and trying to determine what factors control their distribution. It is likely that they do a very good job of filtering the water in the bay of algae and bacteria. The monitoring includes population structure and water quality at different sections on the beach. These clams might be applied as a biological filter in future sewage treatment operations.
Third ARK Photography Exhibition and Wine Tasting
The area's reefs received a big boost in April 2004 when over 140 enthusiastic supporters came out to the new Governor’s House for the Association of Reef Keepers' third annual Photography Exhibition and Wine Tasting.
The BVI's best professional photographers put their finest work on view on Friday, the 23rd of April. Amanda Baker, Mauricio Handler and Dougal Thornton displayed astonishing marine life in keeping with the theme "BVI Waters: Simply Beautiful." Eight amateur photographers came out to display their work as well, and this year ARK added a children's category to the proceedings. ARK Patron Janet Macan, along with Eva Baskin and Aragorn Dick-Reed, judged the amateur and children's entries. Scott Ferris, who came in second last year, won first prize in the amateur division. Nicki Ashwell took second and Jessica Fry came in third. Samora Lewis, a six year old Cedar School student, won first prize in the children's category.
TICO hosted the wine tasting portion of the evening, providing a varied selection of Australian wines from several notable vintners including Penfolds, Lindermanns, Wynns, Coldstream Hills, Devils Lair and Seaview. We are very grateful to TICO, the local distributor of these wines, who are generous supporters of ARK.
Another highlight of the evening was the much-anticipated raffle drawing. Prizes were generously donated from many supportive local businesses. These included wines from TICO, a manicure from Oasis Spa, windsurfing lesson from HIHO, free dives from Paradise Water Sports, Blue Water Divers and Sail Caribbean Divers, dinner for two at Little Dix, Peter Island, and Brandywine Bay Restaurant, KODAK cameras from Focus Marketing and the grand prize of two round-trip tickets to San Juan from Cape Air. Special thanks to all of these vendors for their assistance.
ARK would also like to thank Governor Tom Macan and Janet Macan for the use of their beautiful home, Village Cay Marina for donating delicious platters of food, and the Department of Education, Drake's Trading and Walker Smiths for the display boards and their setting up.
ARK Sponsors Local Fishermen at GCFI Conference
The wonderful new Marine Studies Center at HLS Community College hosted this year's Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute's 56th Annual Conference, held from 10th to 14th November 2003. Approximately 150 fishermen, marine biologists, and fisheries experts from all over the region gathered to discuss topics ranging from the biological aspects of various marine beasties to very broad-spectrum subjects of marine park formation, fisheries politics, and economic issues.
ARK Receives BVICCHA Environmental Award
The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association has bestowed its 2003 Environmental Award on the Association of Reef Keepers. ARK President Rob Power thanked the BVICCHA for the award. "We greatly appreciate such recognition of our efforts and congratulate all our volunteers for their hard work." Former ARK Presidents Trish Baily and Eva Baskin attended the Awards Dinner on Saturday, 1st November 2003, and accepted on behalf of everyone at ARK.
ARK Presents Opinion Paper on Proposed Fishing Violations
ARK was among a small group of organizations invited to attend a meeting in June 2003 hosted by the Marine Association to discuss proposed fishing regulations with representatives from the Conservation & Fisheries Department and Natural Resources and Labour. Former President Trish Baily and staunch supporter Lianna Jarecki developed and presented ARK's comments on these proposed rules. Their report praised the efforts of these two government agencies to develop the proposed policies. In addition to offering ARK's opinion on the issues addressed, ARK urged government, in the future, to involve all stakeholders throughout the entire process of formulating these kinds of environmental management policies. Click here to read the entire paper.
Australian High Commission Assists ARK Again
The Australian High Commission, stationed in Barbados, has generously donated funds to help ARK distribute its reef protection flyers throughout the Caribbean. So far over 10,000 of ARK’s widely acclaimed leaflets have been distributed to seven countries, along with posters, locker stickers, and information on Reef Check.
As part of this project ARK has also donated its flyer artwork and $500 in funding to help the Puerto Rican environmental group Liga Ecologica Puertorriquena del Noroeste develop a Spanish version of the flyer. Liga Ecologica plans to distribute this new flyer throughout Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Spanish-speaking islands.
"All At Sea" Articles Highlight Environmental Issues
Thanks to the commitment of the yachting periodical "All At Sea" and to volunteer writer Becky A. Dayhuff, ARK published a column each month on environmental issues. This monthly column is now being sponsored by Island Resources Foundation. Pick up a copy of the free paper next time you're in the BVI or the USVI.
Coral Reef Symposium (22-27 October 2000) – Bali, Indonesia
Trish Baily attended the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium held at Nus Dua, Bali, Indonesia. Over 1,500 reef scientists and coral reef managers from around the world attended the conference, which is held every 4 years. Trish presented a poster on the Status of the Coral Reefs of the BVI and also on the airport development. The latter was headed "International Funding Agencies Fail the Environment."
Trish returned from Bali with copies of "The Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000." This valuable booklet is written for laymen and designed as a tool to assist governments and other interested persons worldwide in understanding the critical status of coral reefs. Copies are available for reading by calling ARK. The report on the Status of the BVI's coral reefs is contained in the report.
From 28 Oct - 1 Nov 2000 Trish attended a Reef Check Workshop at Nusa Penida near Bali. Over 20 people from around the world attended the workshop, hosted by WWF Indonesia. It was a fruitful three days of discussing pros and
cons of methodology, how to involve more countries in Reef Check, and brainstorming on practical problems and solutions in the implementation of Reef Check.
As a result of the workshop Trish is hoping to involve BVI dive shop operators in running Reef Check this year and hopes to work in the wider Caribbean to promote Reef Check.
ARK extends its sincere appreciation to the following ARK contributors:
Australian High Commission (Patron)
Caribtours Limited (Patron)
VP Bank (BVI) Limited (Patron)
Cedar School (Sponsor)
Charter Yacht Society (Corporate)
Conch Charters (Corporate)
HIHO (Patron)
Horizon Yacht Charters (Corporate)
Penfolds of Australia (Patron)
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Peters (Benefactor)
Residents of Great Camanoe
Sir Richard Branson
TICO (Patron)
Trustnet (BVI) Limited (Corporate)
Andrea and Jeffrey Weiner (Sponsor)
Candace and David Weir (Patron)
