Further Exquisite Coral Reefs Revealed

Marine biologists from Centro Terra Viva and Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve conducted an annual reef survey in the marine reserve from 23 – 27 March 2015. In just four dives, the biologists identified more than 60 species of reef fish.

These included three species of sharks, the grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) and the tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus).

Till now, the reef surveys were concentrated in the southern section of the marine reserve, i.e. from Techobanine to Ponta do Ouro. This year the survey aimed to select new monitoring stations of the reefs in the northern sections of the marine reserve, thus complementing the ongoing monitoring programme.

Thanks to the partnership between Centro Terra Viva and the marine reserve, through the National Agency for Conservation Areas (ANAC), an initial survey of biodiversity and the coral structures of reefs called Baixo de São João, God’s Aquarium, Baixo de Santa Maria and Ponta April was conducted. These reefs in the northern section of the marine reserve have proven to be of priceless ecological value and worth all t protection and monitoring they can get.