ReeFiesta: A celebration of Bonaire’s coral reefs
ReeFiesta: A celebration of Bonaire’s coral reefs
Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean (June 1st, 2019) – Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB) hosted its 4th annual reef restoration event in celebration of our coral reefs. Over 110 divers and five dive operators gathered together for Reef Renewal Bonaire’s ReeFiesta on World Reef Day this past weekend.
ReeFiesta is a free, educational event that aims to bring divers and ocean conservation-minded individuals together to promote coral reef restoration and ocean conservation. The event was part of a variety of activities hosted around the world in honor of World Reef Day, a day calling the global community to action to make simple choices today to save our reefs’ future.
With the generous support of five local dive operators – Buddy Dive Resort, Gooodive Bonaire, Harbour Village Beach Club, Tropical Divers, and Wannadive Bonaire – and the ReeFiesta event sponsors – World Wildlife Fund – Netherlands, Maduro and Curiel’s Bank Bonaire, and H2O Visions Bonaire – Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire gathered over 110 divers together to participate in reef restoration efforts around Bonaire. Volunteers included everyone from STINAPA Marine Park Rangers to tourists from around the world to Bonaire’s local dive community.
In the morning, volunteers dove alongside experienced reef restoration team leaders in nurseries and restoration sites maintained by the dive operators. Together they collected from the nurseries and outplanted 129 Staghorn and Elkhorn corals back onto the reefscape at five restoration sites along Bonaire’s west coast. In the afternoon, divers went out on four dive boats to RRFB’s Klein Bonaire nursery where they performed routine maintenance and cleaned 63 nursery trees. The day ended with a sunset celebration on the beach complete with food and drinks, raffle drawings, and a piñata to thank the volunteers for their hard work.
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire Board Member Christine Wall was energized by all that transpired on Saturday. “It is crucial to get the community involved to protect Bonaire’s reefs and ensure the future of this important ecosystem. It was encouraging to see everyone come together to volunteer their time and support the effort. Every single person can make a difference for our reefs.”
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire could not thrive without its hardworking and energetic volunteers who assist staff on a weekly basis in coral nurseries and at restoration sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. RRFB encourages all divers to give back to the reef by becoming a volunteer and getting involved in reef restoration throughout the year. For more information about our volunteer program, email info@reefrenewalbonaire.org.
ReeFiesta participants pose for a group picture before diving at one of the five sponsoring dive operators.
Two ReeFiesta divers outplant nursery-raised Staghorn coral on a bamboo reef structure in the shallows at one of the reef restoration sites.
Dozens of ReeFiesta divers hover in the water column as they clean the trees at Reef Renewal Bonaire’s Klein Bonaire nursery.
About Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire protects and restores coral reefs in Bonaire by:
- developing new and innovative ways to restore reefs that are supported by research collaborations and shared worldwide
- training, engaging, and inspiring the community locally and internationally through volunteering, educational events, and outreach
- demonstrating that through community efforts there is still hope for coral reefs
Through large-scale propagation, outplanting, and monitoring of genetically diverse corals, Reef Renewal Bonaire works to assist natural recovery of coral reefs. To learn more about how to get involved or lend support, visit reefrenewalbonaire.org or email info@reefrenewalbonaire.org.