The environmental fund FIAES welcomed researchers from Baja California's Red de Observadores Ciudadanos and the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur to start what it calls the country's first integrated diagnosis of its reefs. The 14-month study, backed by the environment ministry, will measure reef biodiversity, coral growth and a reef health index at Los Cóbanos, Costa del Bálsamo and Punta Amapala.
A day earlier, ministry staff and volunteer divers cleared harmful algae from 20 coral colonies in the Los Cóbanos protected area, about a kilometre offshore.