Hernandez, D.

Howard, F.

Howard, N.

Peñaloza, G.

Prada, M.

Robinson, H.

Robinson, R.

Sanders, M.

Talero, A.

Taylor, E.

Aquatic Commons

 Coral Restoration in Old Providence Atoll, Seaflower MPA, after Beta Hurricane: A Joint Work 
among Scientists, Technicians and Fishermen 
 
GIOVANNA PEÑALOZA, NICASIO HOWARD, HARVEY ROBINSON, ANDRES TALERO, RENATO ROBINSON, 
MIKE SANDERS, MARTHA PRADA, FANNY HOWARD, DELIS HERNANDEZ and ELIZABETH TAYLOR 
CORALINA 
San Juan Section, Old Providence Island, Colombia 
coralsai@telecom.com.co, giovannapen@gmail.com 
 
ABSTRACT 
Old Providence atoll is part of the San Andres Archipelago and constitutes the central section of the SeaFlower marine 
protected area (MPA), one of the largest MPA in the Americas.  This elongated atoll covers an area of 255 km2 and has well 
developed reef habitats, including an extensive barrier reef (35~ km2) as well other leeward, windward and lagoonal envi-
ronments.  Among the seven major habitat types identified, coral cover and coral species richness is highest at coral patches.  
Fish biomass is also high in coral patches, with larger biomass composed mainly by herbivores, thus representing one of the 
most productive and complex habitat types.   Unfortunately, high water temperatures registered in 2005 resulted in coral 
bleaching and other coral disease such as white plague, particularly at coral patches.  Stressed corals in Old Providence suf-
fer additional damages due to the Hurricane Beta, which crossed its northern end in October 27-28, 2005.  Beta was a cate-
gory one hurricane with 110 km/hour (70 mph) sustained winds and 989 mb of atmospheric pressure.  As a consequence, 
around 20% of the coral colonies at lagoonal coral patches, in the first 5 m depth, were dislodged and fractured and sub-
jected to erosion and up-side down positioning.  CORALINA, the MPA manager, with the support of the Ministry of Envi-
ronment, contracted trained personnel as well as recreational divers and artisanal fishers to conduct a rapid assessment on 
coral damages and perform coral restoration actions following techniques learned from the Florida Keys National Sanctuary 
Personnel.  A total of 186 coral colonies along seven miles we re-attached and have been monitored every two months.  
Results have been used in several education activities conducted by CORALINA. This project illustrates the benefits of 
having trained personnel, the support of the local community and the importance of share experiences with students, all 
three important aspects needed for MPA implementation. 
 
KEY WORDS:  Coral restoration, hurricane impacts, MPA management actions. 
 
Restauración de Corales en  el Atolón de Old Providence,  AMP Seaflower, Después del Paso del 
Huracán Beta: un Trabajo Conjunto entre Científicos, Técnicos y Pescadores 
 
El atolón de Old Providence es parte del archipiélago de San Andrés y constituye la sección central del área marina 
protegida (AMP) SeaFlower, una de las mayores AMP en las Américas.  Este atolón elongado cubre una área de 255 km2 y 
tiene arrecifes coralinos bien desarrollados, incluyendo una extensa barrera arrecifal (35~ km2), y otros ambientes protegi-
dos, expuestos y lagunares.  Entre los siete principales hábitats que han sido identificados, la cobertura de coral y la riqueza 
de especies de coral es mayor en el hábitat de parche de coral.  La biomasa de peces es también alta en los parches de coral, 
y se compone principalmente por peces herbívoros; por lo tanto representan uno de los hábitats más productivos y comple-
jos.  Desafortunadamente, las altas temperaturas registradas en el 2005 resultaron en el blanqueamiento de corales y otras 
enfermedades, como la plaga blanca.  Los corales ya estresados sufrieron  un daño adicional  debido al paso del huracán 
Beta, el cual cruzó el extremo norte de la plataforma entre el 27 y 28 de Octubre, 2005.  Beta fue un huracán categoría uno, 
con vientos sostenidos de 110 km/hora (70 mph) y una presión atmosférica de 989 mb.  A consecuencia, cerca del 20% de 
las colonias de coral de los parches de coral de la laguna arrecifal, en los primeros 5m de profundidad, se desprendieron y 
fracturaron quedando sujetos a la erosión y volcamiento.   CORALINA, agencia manejadora del AMP, con el apoyo del 
Ministerio del Ambiente, se contrató personal entrenado, buzos recreativos y pescadores artesanales para hacer una evalua-
ción rápida de los daños y  adelantar acciones de restauración de coral aplicando técnicas aprendidas del personal del San-
tuario Nacional de los Cayos de la Florida.  Un total de 186 colonias de coral a lo largo de 7 millas fueron re-adheridos y 
han sido monitoreados cada dos meses.  Los resultados de este proyecto han dio divulgados en las actividades de educación 
ambiental de CORALINA.  Este proyecto ilustra la importancia de tener personal entrenado, de contar con el apoyo de la 
comunidad local y de compartir conocimientos y experiencias con estudiantes, todos aspectos necesarios para la implemen-
tación de la AMP SeaFlower.    
 
PALABRAS CLAVES: Restauración de coral, impacto de huracanes, acciones de manejo en AMP 
Page 340  59th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute  
 
 INTRODUCCION 
Last October 27-28, 2005, the category one hurricane 
Beta crosses the Old Providence and Santa Catalina insular 
shelf with sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) and an 
atmospheric pressure of 989 milibars.  As a direct conse-
quence, the well developed coral reefs present in the area 
were upside down and suffered coral dislodgments, colony 
fractures, and to up 25% increase in recent coral mortality 
depending on their spatial location, with higher values seen 
in shallow coral patches at the northern section of the insu-
lar (Taylor et al. in press).  Prior to the hurricane impact, 
corals reefs were affected by white plague and bleaching 
believed to be caused by an extended period of elevated 
water temperature.  In fact, between May and October 
2005 weekly temperature in surface waters registered on 
average 30 ˚C.    
This paper describes the actions taken by CORALINA 
in order to develop a coral restoration project, and consti-
tutes only one of the several aspects conducted in order to 
initiate an intensive ecosystem recovery actions which sig-
nificantly affected not only the marine environment, but in 
addition all coastal and terrestrial ecosystems.  In doing so, 
CORALINA personnel supported by artisanal fishers, mili-
tary personnel and students transferred knowledge and ex-
perience in coral restoration techniques initially received 
from scientists at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctu-
ary (FKNMS).  Successful results presented here are show-
ing a clear example of a functional networking in MPA 
implementation, technological transfer, and the importance 
of national and international cooperation.    
 
STUDY AREA 
Old Providence and Santa Catalina is one of the atolls 
that comprise the San Andres archipelago in the Western 
Caribbean which belongs to Colombia.  This archipelago 
was recognized by UNESCO as the Seaflower Biosphere 
Reserve in 2000, and in 2005 Old Providence and Santa 
Catalina were included within the multiple use Seaflower 
MPA as its central section.  The Seaflower MPA extends 
over 65,000 km2, with the central section representing 
20%, however the insular shelf is only 255 km2. 
The platform of Old Providence and Santa Catalina is 
elongated and covered by well developed coral reefs in 
which seven different habitat types (coral crest, coral 
patches, fore reef, leeward reefs, gorgonian plains, sea 
grass and sands/silts) and three waves regimes (leeward, 
wind ward, lagoonal) has been identified (Marquez 1997, 
Díaz et al. 2000).  Live coral coverage varies from 1 to 
38% depending on the site, with the coral patches and lee-
ward reefs having maximum species richness (Friedlander 
et al. 2003).  Algae cover in the shelf is high compared 
with San Andres, despite increases in number of sea ur-
chins regularly monitoring with CARICOMP protocol 
(García y Pizarro 2002, Herrón 2004).  The Hurricane Beta 
crosses the insular shelf on its northern section from east to 
west (Figure 1).   
METHODS 
Within a cooperative work that CORALINA is con-
ducting with the FKNMS, local scientists and technicians 
received training in coral restoration methods in July, 2005, 
just before the Hurricane Beta.  Restoration techniques 
Learnt by CORALINA personnel were then transferred to 
artisanal fishers and students establishing a working team 
who were able to quickly initiate a short term coral recov-
ery actions. The technique consisted basically in colony re-
attachment using Portland cement, type 2.  CORALINA 
technicians improved the technique by siting the coral 
colonies on an external structure made of iron bars and 
wire to support those colonies lacking enough surface area 
to appropriate re-attachment.  
A total of 186 coral colonies of medium size ranging 
from 15 to 65 cm in diameter were re-attached in six of the 
11 sites initially inspected having shallow coral patches (≤ 
8 m) located on the northern section of the insular shelf 
with a mean of 16 (SD=8.8) coral colonies per site (Table 
1, Figure 1).  To facilitate future inspections, each colony 
was marked with plastic/aluminum once recovered, and 
GPS coordinates for each site was registered. Restoration 
took place the first two weeks in February 2006, or three 
10° 10°
11° 11°
12° 12°
13° 13°
14° 14°
15° 15°
16° 16°
17° 17°
84°
84°
83°
83°
82°
82°
81°
81°
80°
80°
79°
79°
78°
78°
Figure 1.  Old Providence and Santa Catalina insular shelf 
illustrating the proximately Beta hurricane pathway in Oct, 
2005.  Rapid assessment on recent coral mortality sur-
veyed at 11 sites across the shelf (scaled solid circles).  
Large circles represent up to 20% in coral mortality, small 
circles represent minimum of 5% increases in recent coral 
mortality. Sites on the northern section of the shelf were 
subjected to coral restoration.  Scale 1:100.000.  
   Peñaloza, G. et al. GCFI:59  (2007)              Page 341 
 
cane, mortality seen not only in recovered colonies, but 
also on several colonies and several species at the shallow 
patch recovered sites.  New and low coral mortality im-
pacts might be associated again with high water tempera-
tures, having similar values to those measured in 2005 
(mean of 29.5, SD=1.5).   Similarly, significant reduction 
in fleshy algae due to strong currents and winds, by July 
2006, had grown to the levels seen prior to Beta hurricane 
(mean coverage around 30 to 50%, depending on the site).   
Unfortunately, large coral colonies (≥ 1 m in diameter) 
in good health prior to the Beta impact and found upside 
down were not recovered due to lack of appropriate size lift 
bags.  Those colonies are exhibiting low and progressive 
levels of bleaching, are not yet under monitoring to evalu-
ate their performance.    
CORALINA’s rapid response to restore environmental 
impacts caused by Beta hurricane was possible because of 
dedication and participation from a wide variety of stake-
holders such as artisanal fshers, navy personnel, Old Provi-
dence and Santa Catalina department of planning and de-
veloping, high school and university students, National 
Parks Division and the Minister of Environment, housing 
and  Development.  This is a clear example on how MPA 
implementation needs to look not only to restrictions, but 
also to promote recovery of ecosystem functioning and 
services.   
DISCUSSION 
Satisfactory results on coral restoration achieved with 
this project demonstrated the importance to have a func-
tional MPA networking which allowed to have trained per-
sonnel on key issues at the time when most needed.  Initial 
training and permanent assessment from the Florida Keys 
months after the hurricane impact. 
Data on initial coral condition was measured one 
month after the hurricane and again at the time of recovery.  
Partial measurements on percent of recent mortality, 
bleaching and colony size (long and width axis) were also 
conducted in April and July, 2006 in order to assess suc-
cess of the restoration work.   
 
RESULTS 
Reattachment of the coral colonies was successful in 
100% of the cases, cement and external frames were 
quickly colonized, not being possible to be identified three 
months after restoration.  Recovered corals belonged to 
four species, form which 42% were loved, montanius star 
or boulder star (Montastrea complex), 33% brain (Diploria 
sp.), 17% mustard hill (Porites porites), 4% were lettuce 
(Agaricia sp.), 3% Massive starlet (Siderastrea siderea) 
and the remaining 2% were Millepora sp.   
As reported by Taylor et al. (in press), coral recent 
mortality at the northern section of the insular shelf was 
estimated in 20% in December, 2005, and only 10% at the 
most northern end of the shelf.  Similar values were esti-
mated in February 2006, at the of the restoration.  Despite 
not having statistically significance, there was a trend in 
reducing recent mortality of recovered corals, diminishing 
to 18% (SD=18) in April 2006 and to only 2% (SD=4) in 
July 2006.  Similarly, bleaching affected restored corals in 
11% (SD=12) in February 2006 and to 9% (SD=9) and 8% 
(SD=8) in July 2007.     
Additional coral mortality, not related with the hurri-
cane, began to be observed seven months after the hurri-
 
Site Name Site 
code No. Colonies No.   Species 
Mean colony 
Length 
Mean colony 
Width 
Blue shoal BSH 12 3 28 22 
Channel shoal 
CHS 16 4 27 22 
Katalina key bar 
KKB 4 3 32 27 
Catalina key east 
KKE 17 5 26 18 
Point of big reef 1 
PR1 15 3 24 21 
Point of big reef 2 
PR2 14 2 31 23 
Socky drum 1 
SD1 40 5 29 21 
Socky drum 2 
SD2 22 6 40 24 
White bar head1 
WBH 17 5 31 22 
Wshite bar head2 
WSH 15 4 39 30 
Twin shoal 
TSH 14 2 30 25 
Table 1.    Sites characteristics where coral restoration took place.  For site location see Figure 1. 
Page 342  59th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute  
 
CORALINA from the Environmental Compensation Fund 
from the Colombian Ministry of Environmental, housing 
and Development.  Marlon Howard and Jennifer Bowie 
from The Trees and Reefs Foundation facilitated the logis-
tics required to implement all projects made towards the 
Old Providence and Santa Catalina environmental recov-
ery. We would like to express our gratitude to Steve 
Baumgartner and Billy Causey from Florida Keys Marine 
National Sanctuary for their unconditional technical sup-
port and friendship.  The gratitude is extended to Diany 
Kirchman and Joniel Brown students at the Christian Uni-
versity in San Andres for their field support.  Special 
thanks to Santiago Posada who helped during initial 
evaluation on coral mortality and coral restoration activi-
ties.  
 
LITERATURED CITED 
Díaz J.M., L. M. Barrios, M.H. Cendales, J. Garzón-
Ferreira, J. Geister, M.López-Victoria, G. H. Ospina, 
F. Parra-Velandia, J. Pinzón, B. Vargas-Ángel, F. A. 
Zapata & S. Zea. 2000. Áreas Coralinas de Colombia. 
National Marine Sanctuary gave local MPA managers the 
confidence to conduct this field project and to innovate in 
the use of local materials and technique modifications.  
Networking combined both national and international par-
ticipation increasing probabilities of success not only in 
overcoming losses generated with this category one hurri-
cane, but in addition to be able to translate MPA planning 
into actions. 
Perhaps the success of this project laid not only in the 
broad participation of MPA users from the local commu-
nity, which indeed resulted critical to meet goals and objec-
tives, but also in allowing the people to express their ideas, 
analyze and make decisions on appropriate methods, and 
invite them to actively be part of the solutions affecting 
islands ecosystems.  This co-management approach is the 
beginning of a new approach CORALINA is taken to man-
age the Seaflower MPA.    
 
ACKNOWLEGMENTS  
This project was possible because a grant provide to 
February 2006 July 2006 
Figure 3.  Underwater pictures on selected coral colonies showing coral recovery in four months after coral 
recovery actions. All pictures taken by Giovanna Peñaloza. 
   Peñaloza, G. et al. GCFI:59  (2007)              Page 343 
 
INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Ser. Publicaciones Especia-
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García M. I. y Pizarro V. 2002. Estado y biodiversidad de 
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Page 344  59th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute  
 


Coral restoration in Old Providence Atoll, Seaflower MPA, after Beta Hurricane: a joint work among scientists, technicians and fishermen

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Coral restoration in Old Providence Atoll, Seaflower MPA, after Beta Hurricane: a joint work among scientists, technicians and fishermen

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