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Montego Bay Marine Park Jamaica
     
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July 2004

Volume I
Issue 7
   
July...what happened?
Signs, Omi San left us, we counted a few fish here and there, and we had a STAFF TRIP!
Jessica's Doctor's Cave Beach Sign (1st)
Jessica and her sign at Doctor's Cave

"It took me a while (read: 5 months) but hey, then you've got something!"

The Doctor's Cave Beach sign is the first of the planned dozen for the Montego Bay Marine Park. The sign informs its readers about the Marine Park and coral animals, tells what NOT to do, like buying or touching coral and, most important, WHY not to do so.

The design is "completely integrated in other Marine Park educational publications", or, in more proper English, I "stole" the idea from a Marine Park brochure. But that only creates a house style, right?

The sign is one of five educational components that the Marine Park is helping to implement at Doctor's Cave Beach under the Blue Flag Beach Certification Scheme.

ODPEM Hurricane Preparedness Expo (3rd)
The Montego Bay Marine Park set up a exhibition in Sam Sharpe Square at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management's (ODPEM) Hurricane Preparedness Expo. While most other booths focused on hurricane-related practical matters, the Marine Park booth focused on preserving nature's gifts to protect us from the full strength of hurricanes, namely coral reefs and mangrove wetlands. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) also shared our booth space with information on another natural disaster - earthquakes.
Omi San's going away party (7th)
Jill presents Omi with a certificate of appreciation
Heather gets her groove on
Omi San--the ladies love him!
Omi San has left us! Well, that's being a little melodramatic. Actually, Dr. Tadaomi Nakai has completed his two years of JICA service with the Marine Park. In honour of his noble deeds, we decided to hold a little party for him. The location? None other than "Swinging Mike's" lovely estate in Bogue Heights. Yes, there was much jerk chicken, Lion Heart stout and dancehall music for all. Thanks again Omi San, and make sure to come back for visits again soon!
REEF Fish Count 2004 (10th-11th)
A boat full of people ready to count those fish!
Some small schools
Omi San and Michi San
Every year, the Montego Bay Marine Park does a REEF Fish Count. This is a volunteer-friendly count, in that it is a very simple design that people can learn quickly.

We did four dives. We all tallied our fish and had a bit of fun on the fourth (fun) dive.

We will have the results of the fish count in the near future!
Staff Trip! (16th-17th)
Michael, Fitz and Daina near Black River
A crocodile friend on the Black River
Heather C., Fitz, Daina, Michael and Jessica's boyfriend Edwin (Jess not in pic)
Yes! The staff trip to Treasure Beach, Black River and YS Falls was a wonderful time indeed! Here are a few memorable moments for your enjoyment...
Jessica, Mikey, Daina, Heather & Fitz
Edwin, Jessica, Rasta children, and Dietrich
Dietrich imitates his lunch
Discovery Bay Marine Lab Camps (15th, 22nd & 29th)
The Montego Bay Marine Park is one of the field trip stops for the Discovery Bay Marine Lab Summer Camp, which educates children about marine ecology, among other activities. Children ranging in age from 7 to 15 listened to a presentation about the Park and watched the Park video before boarding The Coral See to experience their undersea tour of the Park first hand. The youngest group toured the Park from above the water on the Skylark catamaran.
Green Hotels Conference (21st-24th)
The Marine Park helped to staff the Coastal Water Quality Improvement Project's (CWIP) Blue Flag Booth at the Green Hotels Conference held at the Half Moon Hotel. The Park is helping to implement the Blue Flag Beach Certification programme in Montego Bay by assisting Doctor's Cave Bathing Club in meeting the required criteria, which includes environmental awareness and good water quality.
Lobbying Workshop (28th & 29th)
Two staff members of the Marine park, Fitzmaurice and Heather C., received training in public advocacy as part of a workshop sponsored by the National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST) in Kingston. With the knowledge that they gained, it is hoped that the Park's public advocacy efforts will be strengthened through a more focused approach.
The Bluing of Montego Bay beautification project

Peace Corps Volunteer Dietrich Roggy has been working on a project called "the Bluing of Montego Bay" for several months. This plan is expected to soon come to fruition. The project involves painting the low walls next to Gloucester Avenue in a three tone blue colour scheme and having mural artists apply images of marine life. The project is in the later stages of planning. Several interested property holders have been contacted, and the actual colours are being chosen, with the assistance of design professionals from Sandals. We expect that this project will improve the appearance of the "hip strip" and enhance the experience for visitors and Montegonians alike.

Below are two images of a property that will participate in the project, one before and one after the "bluing" colour scheme is applied. Please email feedback and/or suggestions to the marine park.

Before colour scheme has been applied

After colour scheme has been applied
Happy Hour Corner

This month's Stakeholder Happy Hour Presentation topics were as follows:

July 1 - Mooring Buoy Project (Andrew Ross, MBMP)
July 8 - Fish Identification (Andrew Ross, MBMP)
July 15 - Sea Turtles (Heather Crawford, MBMP)
July 22 - New Drugs from Marine Life Resources (Nadia Ferguson, Discovery Bay Marine Lab)
July 29 - GDSS's Plans for Recycling in Western Jamaica (Taquise Gordon-Smith, GDSS)

The presentations are open to the public and take place Thursday evenings at 7pm at Pier 1.
Coming up in August
• Video Projects
• Snorkeling Club!
• River Bay Buildings, "After" pictures
 
 
Thanks for joining us, and have a nice Bay!
     
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