Alligator Head Marine Laboratory - A Positive Step for Portland Jamaica Coastal Environment

This was the press release issued by the Jamaica Information Service regarding the establishment of the Alligator Head Marine Laboratory in Portland. 

2014: UWI Department of Life Sciences  from JIS :

A third marine laboratory, the Alligator Head Marine Lab (AHML), was established on March 9, 2014 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21 Academy). The TBA21, through AHML, plans to pursue a long-term conservation and sustainable development programme by collaborating with the UWI and its other partners, the Portland Environmental Protection Association (PEPA) and Reef Check Dominican Republic. The research programme is being led by the Research Director, Dr. Dayne Buddo, with support from Dr. Ruben Torres (Reef Check Dominican Republic).

The research agenda and Principal Investigators are as follows: Professor Dale Webber-Coastal Water Quality,

Dr. Mona Webber-Zooplankton and Icthyoplankton communities,

Dr. Karl Aiken – Fish Sanctuary Establishment/Enhancement,

Dr. Ruben Torres – Coral Nurseries

Dr. Dayne Buddo – Lionfish Research and Control; Reef Community Monitoring and Reef Herbivore Research

The Alligator Head Marine Lab's website contains the following introductory information:

"The coast of Portland is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Jamaica due to its dramatic coastline at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, its rainforest habitat, rich mangroves, pristine beaches, great snorkeling and diving locations. However over the years very little has been done to protect and preserve it for future generations, therefore the reef is in an alarming state and the sea life below the surface is in urgent need of everyone’s care and attention.

The Alligator Head Marine Lab (AHML) has been created to raise awareness of these important issues through research and public outreach, with the aim to reverse the destructive tendencies that have plagued the area, and ultimately revitalize the reefs and protect the underwater sea life, with the understanding that fishing is an integral part of seashore communities, whose lives depend on the ocean.

We need the restoration of ecosystems that support the natural food chain, and to encourage long-term development of the area with respect to environmentally friendly policy. To achieve this goal, the AHML is pursuing a long tested conservation and sustainable development program through scientific research in collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI), and strong community outreach with the support of PEPA (Portland Environment Protection Association), which involves education and policy making. AHML has been set up with a minimum of a 5-year commitment from Alligator Head and TBA21–Academy. It hopes to galvanize public support and to raise funds and awareness to support its programs, in order to persevere with its mission to protect, restore and preserve for generations to come." See Website here.