Background

In 1989, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) established the Project AWARE Foundation. By 2008, it had become one of the largest (by geographical coverage) of several ‘industry led’ environmental organizations, with administration offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. In 1992, Project AWARE Foundation became a registered nonprofit organization with an environmental mission and purpose. Project AWARE relaunched as a movement in 2011 to help divers in more than 180 countries to work together for a clean, healthy and abundant ocean.

Activities

Over the years, Project AWARE, according to its annual reports, has “mobilized” volunteer efforts, such as beach and reef cleaning, coral reef monitoring, shark rallies, and grassroot activism, and marine debris data collection. Project AWARE provides tools and resources to engage the general public, and scuba divers in particular, in activities such as letter writing campaigns, petitions and photo campaigns to pressure governments for greater action on preservation and conservation efforts.

In 2008, Project Aware began working with Reef Check, sharing data about coral reef health.In 2011, the organization relaunched and announced a new focus on the removal of marine debris, encouraging volunteer divers from around the world to actively remove trash from waterways. Project AWARE volunteers collects data through Dive Against Debris, a global citizen science program aimed at encouraging divers to report on locations, types and quantities of litter that they see and remove underwater.

Project AWARE’s current focus is supporting its movement by providing educational tools and resources that inspire action for ocean protection. These activities include building and engaging a dedicated community of dive leaders and ocean advocates via platforms such as Facebook and My Ocean, Project AWARE’s online eco-network, building and maintaining the first global interactive map on marine debris found on the seabed, providing promotional materials to volunteer organizers of local underwater marine debris surveys, promoting letter-writing campaigns, and joining environmental NGO networks in order to give collective support to member organizations’ lobbying efforts. They also work in partnership with PADI dive shops who commit financial support through the 100% AWARE partnership where dive professionals support ocean protection with each student they certify through PADI.

Official Website: www.projectaware.org
Project Aware: Youtube Channel
Roatan Five Stars: Youtube Channel

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Years ago it was common to see people cutting down the mangroves for building or fuel purposes, filling in these areas thereafter with coral skeletons.

1. These mangroves serve a double purpose while protecting the Roatan island reefs.
a) Avoiding through their roots the flow of mud towards the reefs.
b) Avoiding an excess of sweet waters to flow to the reefs centers which would eventually destroy the species.

2. Sewerage discharged into the sea causes many problems for the reefs:
a) This provides nourishment for some fast reproducing organism such as the “marea roja” and rough water thistles, which prevents the bathers to swim comfortably. Besides producing bad odors, these black waters are also a threat as far as contagious diseases are concerned.
b) An excess quantity of these organisms may destroy the reefs. Sea stars for example, which eat the coral polyps, in great numbers are capable of destroying whole reefs in a matter of weeks.

3. Direst destruction of Roatan reefs: In virtually every house on the island, you may observe the remains of coral fans nailed to the walls or pieces of coral and shells used as decorations. Many people sell black coral which is very difficult to encounter and which capture the small lobsters with their eggs.

However, many environmental organizations have emerged, whose main objective is to raise awareness among the population about the protection of natural resources. One of these organizations called BICA (Bay Islands Conservation Association) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1991 in the Bay Islands in Honduras in order to initiate and coordinate efforts in protecting the fragile natural resources of its three islands. BICA’s operation and projects are funded through the support of local individuals, businesses and national and international agencies. BICA has two chapters – one in Roatan and one in Utila.

In Roatan Five Stars we are committed to the conservation and protection of natural resources on the island of Roatan.

Youtube Channel: Roatan Five Stars
Official Website: BICA

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