In a significant move to enhance coral reef conservation, the IBJ Foundation has facilitated the installation of three InterOcean S4 electromagnetic current meters in the Roatan Marine Park, Honduras. These advanced devices will enable real-time monitoring of critical oceanic parameters, including ocean current, water salinity, temperature, turbidity, direction, waves, and tide.
The S4 current meters were generously donated by retired oceanographer Björn Kjerfve, a professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina. This donation supports the efforts of the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), a non-governmental organization dedicated to managing the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest reefsystem globally. BICA’s ongoing monitoring work will be strengthened by the data collected by these oceanographic meters, which will inform conservation decisions, advocate for effective policies, and bolster community engagement in environmental issues.
The installation process involved a multi-step expedition. The S4 meters were shipped from the United States to Nicaragua for servicing by Alta Research. After undergoing calibration, the meters were transported by car and bus across the border into Honduras. They then traveled to the port of La Ceiba, from where a ferry carried the equipment to Roatan Island.
The expedition was led by Joe Ryan, marine biologist and scientific adviser to the IBJ Foundation, together with Rodolfo Adrian Alvarez and Richard from Alta Research company. BICA provided assistance with logistics and had two persons trained in the operation and maintenance of the S4 meters.
This initiative marks a crucial step forward in documenting the health of coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, andmarine species, ensuring that conservation and education efforts are firmly grounded in scientific evidence.
