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By Sarah Lagan
Published Sep 5, 2015 at 8:00 am (Updated Sep 5, 2015 at 8:04 am)

Queen parrotfish in Bermuda's coral reefs

The Royal Bermuda Regiment Underwater Taskforce has joined forces with environmentalists for a marine conservation effort to map the reefs off Elbow Beach.

Reef expert Dr Thaddeus Murdoch heads up the Bermuda Reef Ecosystem and Monitoring Project (BREAM). Initiated in 1999, the programme examines the biology and ecology of Bermuda’s coral reefs and other marine ecosystems, and is a collaboration involving the Department of Conservation Services and the Bermuda Zoological Society. The regiment became involved as part of its 50th anniversary initiative 50 Dives in 50 days events. Dr Murdoch said: “The marine scientists at the BermudaBREAM.org programme are grateful to the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s assistance in getting people out on to the reefs at Elbow Beach, where we can teach them coral reef ecology.

A princess parrotfish among the reefs

“On mapping day we will show people the vital role that our protected parrotfish play in eating marine plants that otherwise overgrow reef corals, and in doing so, keep the reefs healthy and our beaches and shores protected from storms.

“We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with the regiment team of trained divers on conservation and research projects, such as marine debris removal and monitoring for coral bleaching across the reef platform.”

Sergeant Major James Self, who heads up the regiment underwater task force, told The Royal Gazette: “We saw it as the one area that offered a great opportunity for support and in the longer term for us to give continuous support to this fantastic project.

“I am hoping this event is only the first of many joint ventures for the regiment and BREAM.”