Bio bay news

[swheels]

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO —

NOV 19, 2013, 3:39 PM

by

DANICA COTO

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A glowing lagoon off Puerto Rico's northeast coast has gone nearly dark and biologists on Tuesday were trying to find out why.

 

Theories range from an increase in construction runoff to inclement weather to people clearing mangroves to allow larger boats into the area.

 

"We have been compiling data," Carmen Guerrero, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, said in a phone interview as she headed toward Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve with a team of scientists to investigate the problem. "There are a lot of factors that could be at play."

 

The bioluminescent lagoon, often referred to as a bay, attracts tourists who set out in kayaks or boats by night from the neighboring city of Fajardo to see waters that glow when microscopic organisms are disturbed. A greenish light swirls off hands and arms as visitors trail them through the water.

 

But the bioluminescence has dropped so much that tour operators have had to cancel trips and reimburse visitors, Guerrero said.

 

Fajardo Mayor Anibal Melendez told reporters that the lagoon has been dark for at least eight days.

 

"We've never seen anything like that," he said.

 

Melendez blamed runoff from the construction of a nearby water and sewer plant, and he has asked that the plant be moved elsewhere.

 

Officials involved with the plant deny it's the cause. But as a preventive measure, the government temporarily suspended construction of the plant for two weeks until scientists from various agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey can figure out what is causing the problem, Guerrero said.

 

She stressed that officials do not know if possible construction runoff is to blame. Recent rains and a storm that is generating heavy waves is another possibility for affecting the lagoon's bioluminescence, Guerrero said.

 

"It's important to give these experts room so they can do their job and help us understand what happened in the lagoon and why it has temporarily lost some of its brightness," she said.

 

Alberto Lazaro, president of the state Water and Sewer Authority, said he will evaluate scientists' findings before deciding how to proceed in several weeks.

 

He said the plant is needed because people are discharging sewage into the lagoon and nearby ocean. The project, which is to be completed by 2016, was approved by the territory's Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is providing the funding.

 

"The goal of the project is to conserve this valuable resource, and we have designed and developed this project taking all those requirements into account," Lazaro said.

 

Laura Velez, who heads the government's Environmental Quality Board that monitors such projects, said that the plant has had adequate erosion and sediment control and that officials had regularly inspected it to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

 

The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, which manages the lagoon and surrounding areas, collects water samples three times a week to record data including temperature, salinity and precipitation. Guerrero said scientists will analyze that data to help solve the mystery of the darkening lagoon.

 

Miguel Sastre, a biology professor at the University of Puerto Rico who has long studied Fajardo's bioluminescent lagoon, one of three in the territory, said it went nearly dark in 2003 for unknown reasons, but rebounded a couple of months later.

 

He said in a phone interview that his main concern this time is the construction of the water and sewer plant because it coincides with the drop in bioluminescence.

 

"We have to take action and evaluate the situation," Sastre said. "We should do our utmost to help preserve these sites."

 

Sad news it was a great experience when we were there in September

[RayInPR]

This is the same answer I gave to http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1946698

 

Due to some recent construction in the area near the biobay, surface runoff into the biobay has caused it to stop glowing. Due to this, the construction has been halted, and the biobay is making a slow recovery. Some of the tour companies have stopped operating. Some are operating at a reduced coast. There is still some minimal glow. This is temporary, as nature will take over and correct the situation. But there is no telling how long it will take for, or to what degree, the biobay will recover. It's a "wait and see" situation.

[Yvie]

We booked this tour for our upcoming Celebrity Reflection cruise in a few weeks and I came across the article on travelandleisure.com. Does anyone know if the cruise line shore excursions are being cancelled or are they still sending people out on what would be a disappointing excursion?

[rainforestgirl]

As it turned out, the "black out" of the bay was due to natural causes and lasted only 8 days. It is back to normal. Tours have been happening as usual for many weeks now.

[Yvie]

Thanks! Looking forward to this excursion.

[Kim in CA]

I am surprised to read that things are back to normal, because I just read several posts on tripadvisor by people who very recently kayaked in the bio bay, and they said it was not at all good. Practically no glow at all.

 

We are staying in Puerto Rico for two extra nights after our cruise in April and this is something I really want to do, but I am having second thoughts. I hope that it is indeed back to normal, because I was really looking forward to seeing it.

[Yvie]

We just returned from our cruise, January 18-25. The shore excursion desk had left a note saying that the Bio Bay is only up to 40%, and not to believe posts and pictures online that are often enhanced. The letter stated that if you wanted to go for the experience of kayaking through the mangroves, you could still take the excursion if you wished, but they offered an option to cancel without penalty, which we chose to do. Hopefully we'll have another opportunity to do visit the bio-bay in the future.

[rainforestgirl]

Well, many of the photos are enhanced...you will never see that blue glow while kayaking there. But you will see sparkles. In the winter months, there will be fewer sparkles than in the summer months, but I have been told by a company that does the tours that the bay is back to normal for this time of year. The bay itself is not polluted or broken or dead or whatever else people may imply. It is just cold for tropical organisms!

Recent reviews say it is still worth the experience. It would be a shame to miss it as who knows how long these amazing natural places will last.

Edited January 27, 2014 by rainforestgirl

[Loving My Life]

What a shame! We did this kayaking excursion in 2008 and it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen/done. We were there on the best night of the month (no moon) and it glowed and sparkled a bright, beautiful neon blue.