Punta Nizuc Coral Nursery Damaged by Hurricanes: Recovery Efforts Underway

The Bajo Pepito coral nursery, situated in the Costa Occidental National Park of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún, and Punta Nizuc, has experienced significant damage due to the recent hurricanes Beryl and Helen, as well as several tropical storms including Nadine. According to Arturo González González, the park's director, two sections of the nursery, each home to around 400 corals, were impacted.

Efforts to recover and reorganize the damaged areas are already in progress, with renovations to the nursery structures underway to enhance their coral cultivation capacity. González González highlighted that the nursery is a part of the Great Maya Reef, which forms a section of the Mesoamerican Reef System, the world's second largest reef barrier. Yet, over 60% of Caribbean coral reefs are under threat due to human activity and climate change.

During these storms, diving teams from the Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and various environmental organizations conduct tours of the natural reefs to locate "opportunity fragments". These are damaged corals that can be rescued and reattached to the reef. Those fragments that can't be reattached are moved to the nursery for recovery. Once these fragments have grown sufficiently, they are pruned and reintroduced to their original ecosystem.

On a positive note, Claudia Padilla Souza, an environmental consultant, reported that the artificial coral Bioarmonia, located at Punta Sam, remains in excellent condition. The Deer Horn species corals, which were relocated from Bajo Pepito, are thriving and have created a fish bank around them, contributing to the project's success. This strategy aims to boost the number of healthy and diverse coral colonies to preserve marine life and restore the damaged reefs.