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assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact

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The <strong>environmental</strong> <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hurricane was categorized broadly to included Direct Damage<br />

<strong>and</strong> Indirect Loss. The <strong>assessment</strong> was based on field visits undertaken by NEPA, PIOJ, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Fisheries Division.<br />

Direct Damage<br />

a) Ecosystem <strong>and</strong> Habitat Damage<br />

Coastal <strong>and</strong> Marine Ecosystems. Seagrass beds <strong>and</strong> mangroves not only act as coastal buffers<br />

but <strong>the</strong>y provide coastal stability <strong>and</strong> habitat <strong>and</strong> nursery for many fish species <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r marine<br />

organisms. Hurricane Dean uprooted large mats <strong>of</strong> seagrass beds as seen in Figure 5.2. This is<br />

likely to lead to a reduction in fisheries catch in <strong>the</strong> ensuing months. It will also add to <strong>the</strong> clean<br />

up cost <strong>of</strong> beaches. Mangroves <strong>and</strong> seagrass act as sediment sinks <strong>and</strong> thus reduce turbidity in<br />

coastal waters.<br />

Figure 5.2: Large mats <strong>of</strong> seagrass uprooted in Rocky Point, Clarendon<br />

Several mangroves suffered crown damage by wind shear <strong>and</strong> storm surge especially in<br />

Clarendon, Manchester <strong>and</strong> St. Elizabeth (See Table 5.1). However, despite <strong>the</strong> eye <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

hurricane passing closest to Clarendon, about 40% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mangroves in <strong>the</strong> Portl<strong>and</strong> Bight Area<br />

suffered very little or no damage. This is due mainly to <strong>the</strong> young state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se mangroves<br />

which are just recovering from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Debris consisting <strong>of</strong> Gorgonia species<br />

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