Barbara Bernache-Baker Bioluminescent Bay Room

 Plaque Dedication

Vieques has one of the last pristine bioluminescent bays in the world. The Guinness book of World Records lists Puerto Mosquito as the most outstanding bioluminescent bay in the world.

This room, designed and developed by Mark Martin, with a tremendous amount of work from Bill Shank, and the support of a grant from NOAA, has given us a charming and entertaining way to help visitors and residents understand the threats to the bay and the need to protect the Bay for future generations. 

In the last 10 months Mark Martin and Gilda Pimentel have used this room extensively to give innumerable visitors a better understanding about bioluminescence and our most wonderful Bioluminescent Bay. 

It has been an outstanding success.

But something has been missing

Until now, there has been very little recognition of the immense contribution made by Dr. Barbara Bernache-Baker.

Barbara has made a life-long commitment to the study and preservation of Puerto Mosquito.  And now, thanks to her family, including Jeffrey and their four children, we are here to install a plaque honoring Barbara’s work over the last 35 years in support of the Bay. As well, the family has made a donation to the ongoing maintenance and development of the Bio Bay room.

Tonight we are announcing a new fundraising initiative in Barbara’s honor that will help ensure that the room remains fresh and exciting to visitors for years to come. 

Barbara has a unique combination of talents.  She is a scientist, and an educator, a mother and an activist, but in many ways it is her charm and warmth, and her commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the Bay that have resulted in so much of her success.

Affectionately known as Barbarita, she may be small in stature, but her talents and commitment are huge.

Scientist:
Barbara is a biologist (with a PhD from the University of California) and she brought that scientific discipline to the study of the Bay. For many years Barbara could be found out on a variety of boats and kayaks (including the infamous rubber ducky!) doggedly taking samples to bring back to study in her home or later to the lab.  She amassed a huge database of information, establishing a baseline of data on the waters of Puerto Mosquito for future generations.

She has written and published two monographs about the Bay and the Mangrove forests surrounding the Bay, both of which are still in print and available in the gift shop.

Over the years because of Barbara’s enthusiasm, her outgoing nature and persistence, innumerable scientists have come to Vieques to study the Bay. Her generosity (she often let these scientists stay with her) is legendary. And as a result a number of PhD theses on Puerto Mosquito have been published.

In 2000 she was asked to speak at the eleventh symposium of the International Society for Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence at Asilomar, Monterey California. The repercussions of her talk are still being felt today. At Asilomar, Barbara met Edie Widder, one of the world’s foremost experts on bioluminescence, and they became fast friends. Finally this November, Edie was able to visit Puerto Mosquito for the first time. (She said her trip to Puerto Mosquito was like visiting Mecca!) Edie gave two talks here that were outstanding.

Mentor

Most recently, Barbara’s encouragement has resulted in our grant application to the National Science Foundation for a significant study of the effect of humans on the Bioluminescent Bay. It is spearheaded by Gary Machlis, from the University of Idaho, Edie Widder’s ORCA group, Juan Gonzalez LaGoa from the University of Puerto Rico and the VCHT.
As well, Barbara has made many friends with the students and teachers of Vieques and the main island of Puerto Rico.  Jeffrey was reminding me the other day of their chance meeting with a former Viequense student who had gone out on the Bay with Barbara some years ago and who was so profoundly affected by that opportunity that she had decided to work hard, go to university and become a scientist.
Barbara has encouraged scientists and students from the US, the main island and Vieques to take advantage of the lab. One of the projects she encouraged won a top award for the National Science Foundation.

Activist

Barbara also supported the fight against indiscriminate development near Puerto Mosquito — even when it meant taking on the US Navy and the municipal government. She has been a keen proponent of the Bay becoming a World Biosphere Reserve, so that it will be preserved for generations to come. We are requesting signatures on a petition at the Trust to have Puerto Mosquito named a World Biosphere Reserve

VCHT Board member

She has always been an enthusiastic member of the VCHT, serving 4 terms as a Board member, until ill health forced her retirement. Barbara was responsible, along with her friend, Prieto Ventura, for bringing the two large touch tanks in our courtyard from Culebra to Vieques. We wouldn’t have the Marine Life Exhibit without her.

We are very proud of the fact that in conjunction with Island Adventures we have been able to bring groups of Viequenses as diverse as the high school Science club, a group from the seniors residence and the children who attended the MANTA summer programs and their families to this room and out to the Bay, For 80% of these participants, it was the first time they had every been out on the Bay.

With your help we will bring a better understanding of the fragility of the systems that make up the Bay and their value to all of us.

We are truly grateful for the leadership and courage she has shown in her passionate support and defense of Puerto Mosquito.  Thank you Barbarita!