STINAPA Bonaire is working with local companies to transplant local sponges from areas affected by maintenance on commercial piers at Bonaire’s Salt Pier.
In the first phase of the operation, 21 divers who are mainly volunteers supervised by STINAPA staff completed the transplant in 26 dives.
The program aims to move the sponges from areas affected by construction one meter below the surface to areas two meters below the surface that are not affected by the construction work.
The transplanted sponges are now safely at their new locations, covered by fishing line that will be removed once the sponges reattach themselves, estimated to be within two months.
