Panama
Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Conservation of marine biodiversity is one of our main concerns. In 2005, a mass coral bleaching in the Caribbean prompted Pacific Blue Foundation to fund Dr. David Kline, a research biologist and coral reef specialist, to survey the coral reefs in Bocas Del Toro, Panama. Dr. Kline’s surveys are used to monitor the health of the coral reef. Repeated dives and photo analysis help us gain a better understanding of how the coral are responding to such bleaching events, and whether or not there is chance of reef recovery over time.
Scientists believe that large bleaching events are tied to increasing water temperatures – a result of global climate change. It is also suspected that coral bleaching outbreaks will not only happen again, but that they will become more frequent. Determining if corals are able to recover from such outbreaks is important to gauge what lies in store for coral reef ecosystems.
Visit Pacific Blue Foundation’s gallery to get a glimpse of the sea life in Panama.