#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

Status of Coral Reefs in the Northern Caribbean and Atlantic Node of the GCRMN
fishery situation. There are no minimum or maximum size limits or quotas for fishes, but
landings are small and mostly consumed locally. There are 4 trap boats fishing for lobster
and fishes, and only 2 boats operating in deep water; all other fishing is done by free
diving from small boats. Hotels and restaurants are increasing the local demand, and
AGRRA surveys show high fish diversity with no differences in population or abundance
inside or outside the reserves. Grouper were abundant and relatively large in size. There
is no evidence of over-fishing throughout the islands.
ANTHROPOGENIC THREATS TO CORAL REEF BIODIVERSITY
In the Bahamas, the predominant stresses to corals are sewage runoff and tourism
impacts such as diver damage to corals and destruction of coastal habitats for hotel and
marina development. San Salvador Island on the Great Bahama Bank is being damaged
through sport diving, subsistence and sport fishing, and increased tourism and
development. More than 4 million tourists visited the Bahamas in 2000 and tourism
provides an estimated 60% of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the Bahamian
workforce. Most of Bahamas’ population of 350,000 is in Nassau, Marsh Harbour and
Freeport, predominantly associated with the tourist industry. This has resulted in rapid
degradation of these coastal waters and coastal habitat destruction e.g. mangroves are
often cleared for development. There is also over-exploitation of fishes, lobsters, conch
and other target species.
Bermuda has one of the highest population densities in the world e.g. 63,500 in 58km 2 .
Virtually all available land has been developed and the coral reefs are under threat from
coastal development, contaminated run-off, sewage and industrial wastes. The inshore
lagoons receive nutrients from agriculture and sewage run-off and groundwater seepage.
Sewage pollution is limited, however, by good flushing rates. The tourism industry
accounts for about 28% of GDP, with the reefs a focus for diving tourists. There is some
damage through poor diving practices, and anchor damage in the best locations.
The resident population of the Cayman Islands is about 37,000, but total tourist arrivals
exceed 1.4 million each year, accounting for about 70% of GDP. Rapid tourism growth is
resulting in dredging of wetlands, but the 2 outer islands have escaped much of this, due
to their remote location. Tourism-related developments have resulted in damage to the
reefs including habitat destruction, increased suspended sediment loads from dredging
and mangrove removal, sewage, oil pollution, and destruction by cruise ship anchors and
anchor chains.
In Cuba, about half of the shelf edge reefs are separated from the land by broad shallow
lagoons and this protects the reefs and cays from most of the anthropogenic pressures.
Threats to reefs of the southern archipelagos are currently low, however, tourism is
growing rapidly with 1.8 million visitors in 2001, generating $US1.9 billion in gross
revenues. While tourism expenditures generate considerable foreign exchange, the
associated development is causing environmental damage along the coast, including
prime habitats for endangered species. In addition to habitat destruction, there is
increased pollution from sewage, agricultural run-off and chemical contamination of reefs
near high population centers (Cuba’s resident population is approximately 11.2 million).
287