The Vieques Project > NOAA Projects > Education and Outreach

NOAA Projects

Education and Outreach

NOAA is working with the Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust (the Trust) to help educate the Vieques’ community on the unique and important coastal and marine resources in Vieques.  The Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 and supported by members of the Vieques community.  It is concerned with the protection of the unique archeological, physical and ecological environment of Vieques.  One of its primary missions is the preservation of the bioluminescent bays found on the island.  The Trust has environmental scientists and biologists on staff and resources to support a broad array of educational programs for the community through lectures, educational exhibits, seminars and computer resources.  The Trust facility is frequently visited by members of the community, university students, tourists, and school children on field trips.  Through education, the Trust strives to develop a community actively involved in the protection and conservation of the environment and the culture of Vieques.

With NOAA’s support the Trust has developed interactive and bilingual educational exhibits and materials.  The Trust has enhanced the Marine Life Exhibit at the Trust; designed and implemented a bilingual interactive exhibit on Bioluminescent Bay ; and developed educational materials on Vieques coastal resources.  These projects aid in the protection of the coastal and marine resources within Vieques waters by informing the community about the existing resources and their fragility.  The projects build on ongoing efforts of NOAA to address the need for increased public awareness of coastal and marine ecosystems.  The long-term outcome is a community better informed of the Vieques coastal and marine resources.     

Marine Life Exhibit

The Marine Life exhibit is an interactive display of live animals and plants from the waters surrounding Vieques, which helps to educate the community regarding the diversity of marine organisms around Vieques.  The Trust inaugurated the Marine Life Exhibit in 2001.  The goal of the Marine Life Exhibit is to build awareness of the fragility of the complex relationships that are so critical to the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.  Through NOAA’s support, the Trust has modernized the exhibit, developed education displays, and made the exhibit more interactive for visitors, many of whom are school children that come to see the exhibit during class trips.  

Bioluminescent Bay Exhibit

Bioluminescent Bay is a unique and important natural resources in Vieques.  Currently, Bioluminescent Bay is the only designated marine protect area in Vieques.  Bioluminescent bays worldwide are facing a variety of challenges; therefore, increased education is critical to the long-term protection of these resources.  With support from NOAA, the Trust has designed and built a new bilingual interactive exhibit focused on bioluminescent bays.  The centerpiece of the exhibit is a bioluminescent dinoflagellate tank that demonstrates the unique characteristics of bioluminescence.  The exhibit provides the community with an excellent interactive experience highlighting the importance of Vieques’ bioluminescent bays. 

Coastal Resource Educational Materials

The Trust has developed a bilingual field guide describing the coastal ecosystems of Vieques.  The Common Coastal Flora & Fauna of Vieques book includes a description (common name, scientific name, family, species description, habitat, range, ecological importance, facts, etc), and digital photographs of approximately 60 common species found in the coastal areas of Vieques.  The book is available to visitors at the Trust and will help educate the community about the diverse organisms found in the coastal areas of Vieques.