Who we are?
Sociedad Ambiente Marino (SAM) has led for more than15 years the Community-Based Coral Aquaculture and Reef Rehabilitation Program in Culebra Island, resulting in the out-planting of over 75,000 colonies of ESA-listed Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis). SAM has conducted and collaborated in extensive multi-disciplinary scientific research projects, producing an extensive archive of peer-reviewed publications. It has also actively participated in multiple forums regarding the planning and implementation of natural resource and environmental conservation public policy. SAM has also provided technical support to government institutions regarding environmental impact assessments and marine mitigation. The success of our science-based approach to conservation and restoration is supported by over 30 peer-review publications in the last five years.
Timeline
2000
Incorporation in the State Department of Puerto Rico
- Incorporation in the State Department of Puerto Rico.
- Coordinator International Coastal Clean Up – Cerro Gordo, Vega Alta – 50 bags collected.
- Participation in the Ocean Conservancy (known as the Center for Marine Conservation)
- 1st RECON (Reef Condition)
- Instructors Course in Fajardo PR (2 Instructors and 1 Assistant Instructor).
2001
- International Coastal Clean Up Coordinator – Bahia Ballena, Guanica – 150 bags collected.
- Collaboration in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Project in Punta Melones Beach, Culebra PR.
- PADI Project AWARE award for Coastal Clean-UP.
2002
Collaboration in the evaluation Reef Condition (RECON) Protocol, Washington DC
- Participation in the REEF Instructors / Divers & The Ocean Conservancy’s RECON Divers Course in Parguera PR.
- Participant of the Coral Reefs Task Force’s Local Action Strategy Initiative in St.Croix.
- Member of the Puerto Rico’s Local Action Strategy Committee. DIVE-IN award for Coastal Clean-UP.
- International Coastal Clean Up Coordinator – Toa Baja – 20 tons of garbage collected.
- Collaboration in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Punta Melones Beach, Culebra PR.
- PADI Project AWARE award for Coastal Clean-UP. Collaboration in the evaluation Reef Condition (RECON) Protocol, Washington DC.
2003
- One Instructor sent for The Ocean Conservancy’s RECON Instructors Course in Cayo Levisa, Cuba.
- Member of the Puerto Rico’s Local Action Strategy Committee.
- Collaboration in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Punta Melones, and Tamarindo Beaches, Culebra PR.
- International Coastal Clean Up Captain – Cayo Icaco, Fajardo PR.
- PADI Project AWARE award for Coastal Clean-UP.
2004
Ocean Conservancy’s RECON Instructors Course in St.Croix (1 new Instructor)
- SAM ‘s RECON Divers Course training in Rincon and Ponce PR.
- Awarded by NOAA for Active participation of the Puerto Rico’s Local Action Strategy Committee.
- International Coastal Clean Up Co-Captain.
- Fundings awarded by philanthropist Roland Pech, from California, for Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR.
2005
Nominee for the Miranda Foundation “Premio Solidaridad” (Solidarity Award)
- Winner of the EPA Award. SAM ‘s RECON Divers Course training in Culebra PR.
- Member of the Advisory Committee in revision of the New Fishing Regulations of Puerto Rico.
- Fundings awarded by Coastal Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service for Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR.
2006
Creation of a Student Chapter at the University of Puerto Rico (CESAM), in the Rio Piedras and Humacao Campus.
- Fundings awarded by Coastal Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service for Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR.
- Starting a Fishing Lines Recovery Program in PR commissioned by NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Services.
- Video documentation of Margara grounding.
2007
Advisor of Starting a Fishing Lines Recovery Program in Aguadilla PR
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
- Fundings awarded by Coastal Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service for Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR.
- Commissioned by the Puerto Rico’s Natural Resources Department we began the “Characterization and monitoring of mechanical damage and loss of coral reef in determined areas of the Cordillera zone” at Fajardo PR.
- Poster presentation of Low-tech community-based adaptive strategies to manage coral aquaculture and reef rehabilitation under climate change at the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Meeting in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
2008
Advisor of Starting a Fishing Lines Recovery Program in Aguadilla PR
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
- Fundings awarded by Coastal Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service for Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR.
- Commissioned by the Puerto Rico’s Natural Resources Department we began the “Characterization and monitoring of mechanical damage and loss of coral reef in determined areas of the Cordillera zone” at Fajardo PR.
- Poster presentation of Low-tech community-based adaptive strategies to manage coral aquaculture and reef rehabilitation under climate change at the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Meeting in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
2009
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
- SAM’s President was the Winner of the Coral Reef Task Force – CRTF Award, the meeting was held in San Juan, PR.
2010
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
2011
Subaward between TNC and SAM
- Subaward between TNC and SAM: Enhance shallow water fish nursery ground across several representative coral reefs in PR by applying low-tech methods to culture, harvest and transplant threatened Acroporid corals.
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
2011 GCFI Cancun, MX 31 Octubre – 4 Noviembre 2011 - Three Poster presentations:
- Samuel Suleiman: Participación voluntaria como estrategia de manejo en el cultivo de corales para la restauración de habitat,
- Carmen Gonzalez: Analysis of the Spatial-temporal Abundances of the Sea Urchin Diadema antillarum in 5 Sites of Puerto Rico,
- Sandra Schleier: presentación “poster”: Abundance and Size Frequency of Coralliophila caribaea in Acropora cervicornis aquaculture farms.
- One Oral presentation:
- Roberto Colón: Status poblacional del erizo D. antillarum y su rol en el reclutamiento de coral .
2012
Continuation of the Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociación de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
2013
- The 36th AMLC Scientific Meeting was sponsored by the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, University of the West Indies and hosted by AMLC President Peter Gayle from June 17-21 in Jamaica.
- We had 8 Posters and 3 Oral presentations.
2014
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
2015
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
- Winner of the Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF) Award.
- Coral Transplantation Monitoring, Paseo Real Marina, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
2016
International Coral Reef Symposium of the ISRS in Hawaii
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, Asociacion de Pescadores de Culebra and Coralations.
- Mitigation and monitoring of Coral Transplant, Paseo Real Marina, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
- Subaward between Sea Grant, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and SAM.
- International Coral Reef Symposium of the ISRS in Hawaii: 3 oral presentations and 3 posters.
2017
First place for the Ivan Goodbody Student Achievement Award winner for the best student poster presentation, at the The 38th AMLC Scientific Meeting in Merida MX.
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, NOAA, Protectores de Cuencas.
- Mitigation and monitoring of Coral Transplant, Pier of Culebra, PR.
- Citizen Science Association, Minesota, USA.
- 38th AMLC Merida, MX: 3 oral presentations and 6 posters including best poster presentation award.
- American Fisheries Society, Tampa, FL: 1 oral presentation.
- Mitigation and monitoring of Coral Transplant, Paseo Real Marina, Aguadilla, PR.
2018
Two (2) oral presentations in CRC’s Reef Futures, Key Largo, FL. With excellent exit remarks and networking activities with other Caribbean groups.
- Project coordinator in Coral Reef Transect and Transplantation Projects in Tamarindo, and Punta Soldado Beaches, Culebra PR in collaboration with UPR/CATEC’s Coral Reef Research Group, NOAA, Protectores de Cuencas, Hispanic Federation, and/or Mercy Corps.
- Mitigation and monitoring of Coral Transplant, Pier of Culebra, PR.
- Mitigation and monitoring of Coral Transplant, Paseo Real Marina, Aguadilla, PR.
- Four (4) oral presentations and two (2) poster presentation in MarCuba, Habana, CU.
- Two (2) oral presentations in CRC’s Reef Futures, Key Largo, FL.
2019
- This meeting was held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, organized by the Punta Cana Foundation; during the days of May 20 to 24, 2019. SAM was represented with 3 oral presentations and 4 posters. Also SAM became institutional member in the AMLC.
- PreCOP25 Costa Rica: Participation as a panelist.
- Coral Disease Outbreak Response Workshop, St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands.
- Simposio de Ciencias Marinas, Mayaguez, PR: 4 oral presentation,