What Does It Take To Save Tres Palmas?

Reserva Marina Tres Palmas

In 2004, Surfrider Rincón helped lead a successful community effort to create the Reserva Marina Tres Palmas, protecting the world-famous Tres Palmas surfing break, along with endangered coral species that were being harmed by the overtake of marine resources and unchecked coastal development projects. The reserve also serves as a model for community-based management in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Photo: Rachel Tanner / @racheltannerphoto

Salva Tres Palmas

Although the marine reserve continues to enjoy broad support in Rincón and throughout Puerto Rico, Reserva Marina Tres Palmas continues to be threatened by an onslaught of rampant development and water quality impacts. Construction activities on the coast and hillsides of Rincón generate excessive runoff of sediments that pollute nearshore waters, damaging sensitive marine and coastal ecosystems, including threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals, and threatening the world-class surfing break. Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force program is actively monitoring water quality in the reserve while Surfrider Rincón is also restoring shoreline habitats to help mitigate the effects of runoff.

The Surfrider Foundation Rincón Chapter and other local environmental groups are calling upon the responsible government agencies to enforce all applicable environmental and local planning laws to protect this unique and special place. Government leadership and intervention are essential to protecting the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and other sensitive marine habitats off the coast of Puerto Rico. Sign Surfrider's Salva Tres Palmas Action Alert