As part of an increased thrust to address capacity in the marine environment, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has acquired a new boat.

It was purchased with funds donated by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority.

The 26 1/2-foot-long boat, dubbed the Hippo-campus, will be used for research, enforcement and diving activities, and brings to three the total number of vessels owned by NEPA.

The Hippocampus will also be used as a teaching tool to educate NEPA staff on proper vessel operational procedures as well as to widen the area of coverage in the Kingston Harbour. It will be used to carry out routine patrols along Jamaica's south coast and will allow NEPA to effectively deploy and maintain marker and mooring buoys within the Palisadoes/ Port Royal Protected Areas.

Additionally, the boat increases NEPA's capacity to discharge several areas of its mandate simultaneously, including proper coastal management and public education training.

Increase information access

As part of celebrations to mark the International Year of the Reef, the acquisition of the Hippocampus will also ensure that NEPA has increased access to information concerning the effects of land-based impacts on the health of Jamaica's coral reefs. Its value as a research tool means that NEPA is better able to monitor as well as enforce regulations pertaining to the local marine environment.

The agency also has plans to increase surveillance of the Jamaican coastline. NEPA says it will use the information acquired to feed into its various plans and policies earmarked for the sustainable use of Jamaica's natural resources.