Playa Hotels & Resorts: Sponsoring Marine Awareness

The Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML) is a facility of the University of the West Indies dedicated to supporting research and the teaching of biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, hydrology and geography. The facility also seeks to apply the knowledge generated to the management of the natural resources in Jamaica's coastal zone.

Playa Hotels & Resorts has provided sponsorship for the DBML Open Day event, which aimed to inform the public about DBML's past and current research, raise awareness of coastal ecosystems, and highlight the environmental issues affecting Jamaica. Playa Hotels & Resorts’ sponsorship allowed the Open Day to be held free of charge and attracted 176 attendees from 10 schools, 16 individuals from Discovery Bay Community, 46 DBML/Playa volunteers and 6 exhibitor groups (22 individuals), ensuring that a diverse range of people had the opportunity to participate and benefit from the activities.

The attendees gained a deeper understanding of vital ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs. In addition, they learnt about the importance of various marine invertebrates, including corals, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. The visit to the mangrove nursery allowed attendees to observe the three species of mangroves found in Jamaica, while equipment used in marine research gave insight into the scientific endeavours conducted at DBML.