|
Cuba
has 3,735 miles of coastline. This is more than any other island in
the Caribbean. It has 7,848 sq. kilometers of species-rich mangrove
swamp and its inland waters contain 22 or more endemic species of fresh
and brackish water fish. Much of its coastline is surrounded by smaller
islands and lagoons within large, relatively unspoiled coral reefs,
which due to environmental degradation are a quickly vanishing source
of biodiversity in the whole Caribbean Sea. A mixture of cultural, political
and economic factors have contributed to preserve this important living
resource, yet it has been only a temporary reprieve. The same global
human forces that have ravaged the oceans and reefs in the rest of the
Caribbean are splashing down in the coastal waters of the Cuban islands.
Efforts to study this system before it is gone, and to fight to preserve
what is left are definitely underway, but while they may help to protect
some of these complex ecosystems it is certain that much of this biodiversity
will soon be lost. This web page is designed to be an introduction to
this last well- preserved ecosystem which once covered the whole Caribbean.
Enjoy! |
Like all Cubans, reef fish love old American cars! |
Cuban waters contain 3020 sq. km of reefs.
After the Bahamas, this is the second largest reef area in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean reefs as a whole are a unique ecosystem with endemic species
found nowhere else in the world. But the reefs of the Caribbean have
been vanishing even more quickly then reefs elsewhere. There are many
theories about why this is happening: some blame it on rising water
temperature; an increase in organic matter being washed out from nearby
rivers due to the use of fertilizers; more aggressive deeper fishing
with more destructive fishing techniques; and the recent proliferation
of cruise ships and increased tourism on the reefs themselves. Scientists
have recently discovered that many of the most rapidly vanishing reefs
are infected with a bacteria that
comes from raw human sewage. They blame the cruise ships for their practice
of dumping their sewage tanks directly into the reefs' waters. |
Click here
for important information on Cuban reefs and mangroves |
Click below for lots of pictures of Cuban reefs |
While 20 of the 24 nations of the Caribbean
have more than 90% of their reef listed as threatened (see the reefwatch),
Cuba has only 46% in this condition. By looking at the suspected causes
of reef loss listed above, one can make some guesses as to why. Cuba's
commitment to sustainable agriculture results in much less organic matter
being washed down into the reefs. Their more primitive fisheries technologies
do not allow them to harvest the oceans at such an alarming rate, and
the U.S. led ban on tourism to Cuba has vastly decreased the number
of cruise ships frequenting its waters. The higher than average commitment
of Cuba to maintain its biodiversity also seems to have paid off. They
already have several MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) and studies of enforcement
have shown that Cuba not only sets these areas aside but has consistently
policed them to prevent violations. Yet these reefs are increasingly
threatened. Already there are plans for a unique US investment to upgrade
Cuba's fishing fleet, allowing it to have a greater impact on the reefs
by further over-fishing the Caribbean. |
Hippocampus reidi |
The yellowtail snapper (Caranx latus), an important fish for the Cuban people |
Carangaides barthomomei, another important fish to feed the Cuban people |
|
The spotted ray (Aetobatus narinari) trying to swim away |
Cuba has shown its love of its marine fish with a collection of 60
fish stamps. Click below to see them all |
United Nations Program on the Caribbean
Page, photos
and links about Cayo Lago
Gulfbase
site about the Gulf of Mexico
Background on Caribbean fishes
Endangered Caribbean fishes
Cuba photos for
sale
Environmental
Defense Fund proposes new Marine Restricted Areas in Cuban waters (pdf
file)
Page designed by David Connelly
last updated 2/25/05
Click here to return home