The halt to economic activities in many places, the closing of factories, the lack of movement on the seas are bringing back marine life along Dominican shorelines. Environmental reporter and journalist at the Diario Libre, Marvin del Cid, interviewed Alido Luis Baez, an assistant investigator for the Dominican Foundation for Marine Studies (Fundemar), who confirmed the good the epidemic has brought for the environment.
As a lifelong fisherman, Baez reports that in the area around Bayahibe, some surprising changes are going on. As an example, he cites a juvenile green sea turtle on the beach, near the town, a few meters from the sea. These animals have not been seen since the beginning of the rise of tourism in the area.
Baez spoke of sighting mottled dolphins in groups of up to 40 in one pod. Likewise, down the coast a bit, to the shores of the Cotubanamá National Park, there are unusual numbers of tortoises and starfish.
Rarely seen rhinoceros iguanas were spotted in Peñón, along the rocky coastline. And over by Catuano there were two large manta rays in fairly shallow waters, and these were captured on video by surprised local fishermen.
Most ecologists attribute this increase in activity to the absence of tour boats and the regeneration of the seagrass beds along the coastline. Everyone questioned by the Diario Libre journalist noted that the waters are much clearer, too.
The ever-present Jake Kheel, from the Puntacana Group Foundation,
also noted positive changes in the areas surrounding the Punta Cana Resort & Club. From the beach, a person can see sea turtles, manta rays and a large number of fish. Migrating birds are also abundant.
Observers in Boca Chica have also noted a renewed population of fish and crabs in the sea. Tasha Gough, a marine researcher in Boca Chica, says that the fishermen are seeing large fish in large numbers in the area.
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Diario Libre
4 May 2020