PDF Report (En Espanol/In Spanish)
“CREACIÓN Y DESARROLLO DE ARRECIFES ARTIFICIALES EN LAS COSTAS DE LOS DOS LITORALES DE GUATEMALA: OCÉANOS PACÍFICO Y ATLÁNTICO”
"CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF artificial reefs ON BOTH COASTS OF COASTAL GUATEMALA: Pacific and Atlantic Oceans"
Informe de avance Julio 2007-Marzo 2008 Progress Report July 2007-March 2008
Guatemala, Abril de 2008 Guatemala, April 2008
I. I. Introduction
Artificial reefs are a technique for environmental friendliness in aquatic environments especially seafarers., And these are used for various purposes, such as: a) increasing the biomass of fish stocks which are extracted by a commercial fishing industry and craft, so as recreational sport fishing, and up to the subsistence fishing; b) sites for recreational diving; c) improve the conditions of the waves for water sports like surfing; d) protection of beaches, and e) restoration and simulation of natural reefs.
The purpose for the artificial reef, it is essential that dictates the design and location. The failure to identify clearly the purposes of an artificial reef at the outset, the purpose and use of artificial reef as the driving force for the location of the reef, design, construction and subsequent management decisions may result from the same deficiency.
To contribute to the development of productive alternatives, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Agriculture, through the Unit Management of the Fisheries and Aquaculture-UNIPESCA-raised the development of a project to create artificial reefs in the Pacific Guatemala, as a test pilot, noting the results obtained are lobbying the Government of Japan support to develop a project on both coasts, the project has drawn attention to the fishermen and the goal would be to turn this project into a permanent program Work UNIPESCA by which consolidated a system of artificial reefs on both coasts of the country.
The project involves the construction, transportation and placement of artificial reef-forming structures, such as "Reef balls, model Lo-pro" in the coastal marine area on both coasts.
Due to the ability of such structures for the creation of new habitats and developing the marine life in general, the project has the potential to increase the productivity of fishing areas, as well as for development of artisanal fisheries, coastal sports and ecotourism, with fish species such as snappers (Lutjanus spp.) CORVIN (Family Sciaenidae), Robalos (Centropomus spp.) and others, that could attract national and foreign tourism, and a source of income for traditional fishermen who could become guides sport fishing. Another alternative might be associated with the development of ecotourism in areas of diving depth, which requires the presence of areas with high diversity of life underwater. The ultimate goal is to improve the living conditions of artisanal fishermen from Guatemala, through increased productivity in fisheries in general, and the development of recreational fisheries and coastal eco-tourism associated with diving.
To date there has already been built, transported and sunk 983 structures (Reef Balls) forming artificial reefs, 300 of these were placed in front of the village Tulate in Retalhuleu, 200 off the coast of Puerto de Champerico in Retalhuleu, 23 against the Puerto de Champerico Dock (request for the subsistence fishermen's pier), 150 units in the community of Las Lisas, Santa Rosa, which were submerged in two different points compared to 310 in the community and Monterrico and Curbina, Taxisco, Santa Rosa; that 310 of these were built, transported and sunk in these two villages, the project funded the construction of 100 units and transport of all. On this occasion, with the support of the Graduate Gustavo Fratty who financed the construction (materials and labor) of 210 structures of artificial reefs, this is a clear demonstration of how the project begins to sell itself to private initiative and initiate financial contributions of great importance for the growth.
II. The artificial reefs have been management measures that have been implemented in many regions to address the issue of reduction of fish production. In the artificial reefs, colonization is fast, high densities of fish, and catches large, have been used as evidence for increasing the production of fish in the reefs.
2.1 The artificial reefs may mediate the loss of habitat.
· A Increase biodiversity by the atmosphere of the arena more complex.
· Provide refuge from over-fishing impossible or harmful use of networks and reduce trawling in an area.
-Expands the limited habitat for the species of reef-dependent and associated species.
- Improvement in water quality due to the withdrawal of nutrients / bacteria / fitotoplancton by filter-feeding fish reefs.
·Mitigation for the loss of habitat.
· Opportunities for scientific research.
2.2 Artificial Reefs, type Reef balls
The design of Reef balls of has been improving continuously; resembles a hemisphere with hollow with holes of various sizes , and there are specific simplez techniques used in their manufacture, each will be unique and different from the rest because the staff in charge of casting molds in controlling the location and the holes that goes into each mold, leaving the empty concrete. . Both the central hole as the holes in the body are formed with the help of special rubber balloons that allow varying the thickness of the wall to be able to change their volume inflatino will change molding sizes.
The holes have a greater opening to the outside and less in the interior and several holes can connect with each other if desired. In the part of the crown element is an opening larger. These features add stability to the elements to neutralize the effect of the hydrofoil flows.
The artificial reefs to assess relate to man-made structures of concrete "Reef Ball," Lo-pro model, which are used in this project.
Reef ball elements produce a large number of secondary flows in all directions which tend to be minimized between them. . For the top opening is an upwelling that drags large amount of nutrients. These effects lead to the effective attenuation of the wave at the same time induce agencies to settle around the elements, it soon becomes natural attractions that are hosting gran diversidad de vida. great diversity of life. The Reefballs form an environment that attracts marine life, gives refuge and encourages the development of the food chain. Once covered by algae and corals are a great visual attraction for swimmers (www.reefball.org).
The bulk of the weight of each item is located at the bottom for better stability. When items are placed in areas of high-energy waves such as reefs or placed at shallower depths near shore, the items are conveniently anchored to avoid being dragged by the action of waves.
With artificial reefs with Reefballs productivities are achieved spectacular development of biomass. Because the goal of Guatemala is that the artificial reef has the potential to increase the productivity of fishing areas, with fish species such as snappers (Lutjanus spp.) CORVIN (Family Sciaenidae), Robalos (Centropomus spp.). In the case of Guatemala, due to species goals, groundfish, the type of artificial reef built was directed to the type of reef low-profile (low profile).
III. Methodology
3.1 Manufacturing:
The manufacture of the reef is done in ten molds acquired by UNIPESCA with this project, with the aim of having a production of an equal number of structures per day; All building materials (sand, piedrín, cement and some accessories) have been acquired directly in the communities where the project is implemented.
Manufacturing leads with three stages:
· The molds must be anchored by a special system to a base of wood are placed inside them small buoys (which have been replaced by plastic balls for the cost of these); each mold carries a total of 12 balls, which has a value of three days on average. . It also introduces a central buoy; these are used to form the gaps in the structures, and is filled with air. Once the mold is armed to go to the next phase.
Given armed molds, you can see the anchoring system
10 armed battery
Process armed by the staff
Given the interior of the mold armed with central buoy
· . Mix and mold filling: Mix the filling molds prepared using piedrín, sand, cement, silica, microsilos, fiberglass and water.
The mixture is prepared with these materials and chemicals in industrial mixers, with the aim of obtaining a homogeneous mixture, and is left with tubs in each of the molds to be filled, the molds filled with cement are left to dry for a period of 18 hours.
· Disarmed: after drying is to disarm the mold, deflating the buoy and removing the central anchorage parts of the molds, and placed the structures already formed in an area that do not impede the following days.
Process of moving structures
3.2 Transportation and sinking:
For the transport process, and pulled collapse, have hired the services of renting traditional fishing boats, so that they can appropriate the project and also at least during the days you work in this activity will reduce the pressure fishing, and also create an alternative work.
The carriage is performed by loading boats with two structures each, with the help of a hoist and these go out to sea over the bar for access (in Tulate and Las Lisas), then into the sea to spend a single boat and four structures this is who takes the point of run four to save fuel and are recruiting trips between three and four structures.
Process of assembling structures to craft, in Tulate
Relocation of the structures in Tulate, Retalhuleu
Pulling the structures in sea
In the case of Champerico, these were transferred to the pier to the boat and lowered by winch, once loaded the boat with two or three of these units transported to the selected point.
Monterrrico was performed in a new form of transportation and sinking, this was to tie a barrel of 54 gallons of plastic sealed to each structure and was HALADÓ by boat for the Reventazón and then to the sea, only to sink off the cape that was holding to the reef barrel
Relocation process of building a dock area in Champerico, Retalhuleu
Charging structures The boat will dock in Champerico from
In both cases the structures to be able to throw into the sea, you need the presence of six to eight people
3.2 Manpower
. Any hired labor to manufacture, transport, collapse and surveillance equipment and materials has been on local communities as an endorsement of the project to generate local employment.
IV. Results
4.1 units built by community
Community
Useful structures [1] (built and planted)
Aldea Tulate, Retalhuleu Tulate village, Retalhuleu
two points to 200 in a 18 km from the port, and 23 in front of the dock
Aldea Las Lisas, Santa Rosa The village Lisas, Santa Rosa
150, se sumergieron 150, were immersed two points in front of the village.
Aldea Monterrico, Santa Rosa Monterrico village, Santa Rosa
100 submerged in two different points on the other side through private funding (Lic. Gustavo Fratty) were built 210 more units in which UNIPESCA provided the equipment and provides the payment of transport and sinking of the same.
Have been produced, transported and plunged a total of 983 structures forming artificial reefs, all 773 of these processes were fully funded by the project, the remaining 210 were co-financed ie Lic. Fratty provided the labor and materials for construction and project provided all the equipment for manufacturing, labor and fuel for transport and the collapse of the same.
The reefs have been placed on the following points:
The information is in Geographical Units (degrees, minutes and seconds) and WGS 84 Datum. At each point took to the corners of the area occupied by structures of artificial reefs.
4.2 Costs
Cost per unit / community
Community
Cost / unit
Tulate
Q 724.90
Champerico Champerico
Q 609.89
Las Lisas The Lisas
Q805.88
Monterrico Monterrico
Q 601.20
Average Cost
Q 685.47
In the above table, you can see how they have changed the unit costs in every community, this is tied directly to Tulate and Las Lisas in the material, does not go directly to the beach; whether we should move on and offloading vessels to Instead of working through the canal.
The increase in fuel prices severely impacted on the project, as a result of all this construction materials rose in price as it limited the production of structures of reef balls.
Investment
Rubro Rubro
Costs
Materials
Q 181832.74
Other activities
Q16500.00
Manufacturing workforce
Q 124860.00
Manpower placement
Q 127440.00
CombustibleFuel placement
Q 77615.70
Supervision
Q 26730.00
Coordination
Q 35000.00
Fuel vehicles
Q50000.00
Team Equipment
Q 329660.00
Administrative expenses
Q 45500.00
Training
Q70000.00
Systems buoys
Q 30000.00
Miscellaneous (Cabos, Strings, Grips, etc.)
Q 79861.56
Balance
Q 105000.00
Total Overall
Q 1300000.00
In April 2008 have been executed a total of Q 1, 195000.00, with these resources have been covered all expenses for construction, transport and collapse of the 773 structures forming artificial reefs. . This investment covers all expenses incurred including all purchases of equipment and accessories for the construction as molds, air compressor, hidrolavadora tool, among others. It also has purchased equipment to conduct monitoring activities such as diving equipment, sub aquatic robot, among others.
The project has invested around Q 250000.00 which is equivalent to 20% of the total, was executed in payment for labor to relatives or local artisanal fishermen; around Q 182000.00 equivalent to 14% of the total were acquired for construction materials (cement , Sand and essentially piedrín) these were also purchased in the communities where they developed the manufacture of the same, like the fuel that was used in the placement which is about Q 78000.00. These local costs in some way help boost the economies in these communities and generate temporary employment but also completely new.
4.3 Location Maps
