Cabodela Vela Guajira
TERRAZUL FOUNDATION FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONSERVATION was trained at Reef Innovations and is getting it's first Reef Ball molds for a project for the sustained management of the Wayuu artisanal fishery and conservation of marine fauna at the Cape of La Vela in the State of La Guajira, Columbia. The program will include educational efforts, reef building, coral propagation and transplanting, harvest restrictions and other management tools to improve the oceanic ecosystems of the area. Columbia project building Reef Balls May 2003.
we managed to finish the 40 reef balls for the
project. We started in April because we couldn't get
some materials for the construction on time. The mold
was used twice a day with an interval of 7.5 hours
between the two castings. The conditions were pretty
difficult, mainly logistics related. The mold and
parts appeared to be in good conditions at the end
however, one of the central bladders had a punch on
the inside of the handle ring. We used one bladder per
casting so that we could let it rest and avoid
stressing of the bladders. The thither? balls were all
fine and did not use any of the spare ones. We built 3
bases, this allowed us to keep the fresh balls on them
before dropping them on to the ground.
With regards to the community, about 38% of the fisher
community got involved in the construction stage. My
guess is that about three local fishermen became used
to building reef balls and also used to the mold and
its parts. The rest of the fishermen helped with
putting cement, sand, rock, etc, into the concrete
mixer and mold.
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