One of three ocean-monitoring buoys recently deployed around Antigua and Barbuda has been recovered after going missing over the weekend.

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service said the buoy was located in Barbuda and retrieved virtually intact.

The equipment was among three Sofar Ocean monitoring buoys deployed last week to collect real-time information on marine conditions, including waves, ocean temperature, currents and wind.

The data gathered by the devices are expected to improve understanding of conditions at sea while strengthening the accuracy and reliability of weather and marine forecasts.

Officials are now appealing to mariners, fishers and other members of the public to recognise the buoys as important national assets and avoid moving, damaging or tampering with them.

“These buoys are there to serve you and to help keep you safe,” the Meteorological Service said.

The agency stressed that the devices are specifically designed to operate in the marine environment and should be left undisturbed if encountered.