US EPA to study in Caribbean Sea around Puerto Rico

From an article by María Miranda Sierra posted on Caribbean Net News:

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: During the next few weeks, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will study water, reefs and marine habitats in the Caribbean Sea around Puerto Rico as the agency conducts a series of studies aimed at protecting a number of marine areas around the island.

Efforts kicked off on Friday, and EPA’s ocean survey vessel, the OSV BOLD, will conduct a series of scientific studies aimed at protecting and improving the Caribbean environment in and around the San Juan Bay Estuary, Jobos Bay, La Parguera and other marine areas around the Commonwealth.

The ship was also open to the public when it docked in San Juan on February 12 and will once again be open to the public when it docks in Mayaguez on February 19. On February 23, the OSV BOLD will sail to the US Virgin Islands, where its crew will study coral reefs for three weeks.

“The waters around Puerto Rico are some of the most ecologically-significant in the world, so protecting their health is a priority for EPA,” EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou said in a written statement. “The state-of-the-art OSV BOLD represents EPA’s commitment to scientific research at the highest level, and allows our scientists to collect valuable data that supports the conservation efforts of our partners in the region.”