 Roatan Marine Park
The Roatan Marine Park, created to help protect the creatures and reefs of Roatan, primarily in the area between West Bay and Sandy Bay on the North Shore of the island, recently met with representatives from dive shops located on the South shore of Roatan. South Side shops had seen the great work done by the Park, and wanted to help out and maybe increase awareness about protecting the south shore of the island as well. Dockside Dive Center was one of the south-shore shops to participate in that meeting. The outcome was extremely positive, with the Marine Park agreeing to extend membership to shops on the South Shore - hence, the Roatan Marine Park - South Side Chapter was born!
The main goals of the Marine Park, both North and South shore, are to offer programs to promote reef conservation through education and clean-up programs, to provide better policing of illegal poaching within the Marine Park boundaries, and to conduct research concerned with the quality and state of our reefs. If you are interested in further information about the Roatan Marine Park organization, you can read all about them at their website, http://www.roatanmarinepark.com.
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Fund-Raising
The South Side Chapter of the Roatan Marine Park is brand new, and at this point, we need to raise money for all the great projects we want to implement! Funds for the Marine Park are raised through private donations, the support of local dive shops, and through the sale of BC tags or wristbands to visiting divers who enjoy our beautiful reefs and wish to help protect them. The tags and wristbands cost $10 each and are valid for an entire year. Roatan Marine Park t-shirts are also available for $15 - all proceeds go to the park.
For information on how you can help to support the Roatan Marine Park with a donation or through the purchase of a tag or wristband, contact Dockside Dive Center.
Projects in the Works
Our first official project will be to extend the moorings on the south side of the island, with a goal of 10 additional moorings completed by April 2007 (currently in progress). Permanent moorings help to protect the reef by discouraging the dropping of anchors, which quickly and easily destroy the reef.
Future Goals
Our f uture goals include the planning of educational workshops for local divemasters dealing with the "how to's" of dive briefings, buoyancy workshops, diplomatic guest relations, etc. Eventually, funds allowing, we hope to have a building that will act as a "headquarters" for the south side chapter, and be able to support a patrol boat and full time park ranger to aid in the policing of illegal poaching within the park. |
