Jackson2013-Status and Trendsof Caribbean Coral Reefs

Timeline
11,000 CE: Human remains on coastal caves of the Caribbean coast
200 BC
to 1541 CE: Mayan colonization of the Yucatan, large and abundant settlements along the Caribbean coast
1540-1950: Period of low-density population along the mainland coast.
1843: Fishing on turtle: loggerhead for its eggs and oil; green turtle for its meant, eggs and shell; hawksbill for
its shell and meat
1898-1950: Shipment activities of agricultural products (wood, chewing-gum) that favors colonization of the Puerto
Morelos area.
1900: Green turtle fishing increased in Quintana Roo as fisherman of British Honduras worked out stock in
their area
1906: Documented fishing on Strombus, barracuda, Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys impricata, sponge
1928: Henequen, coconut and turtle fishing were the chief industries of Cozumel
1940: The waters off the northern end of Quintana Roo were exploited heavily by handliners and shark
fishermen from Cuba
1950: Puerto Morelos has a population of 80 habitants; turtles continue to be a main export product
1951: Hurricane Charlie (Category 3)
1952: Deployment of “Atajo” traps in southern coast (Costa Maya)
1961: Hurricane Carla (Category 1)
1967: Hurricane Beulah (Category 2)
1970: Luxurious species as conch, shrimp and lobster are fished in the northern, central and southern zones
1975: Creation of Cancún
1980: Cancún and nearby areas has a population of 226,000; 99,500 tourist visits
1978: Beginning of commercial lobster fishing on Puerto Morelos reefs (spearfishing)
1978-1980: First Puerto Morelos reefs survey. Reefs naturally well developed on the crest and back reef and coralgorgonian
grounds dominate de low profile fore reef. Healthy and pristine in some sites. Back reef coral
cover (31 ± 26%) and reef-crest (33 ±21%); fore-reef coral cover (7 ± 8%)
1979: Concerns about the rapid rate of conch exploitation produce regulations that limit its capture to six
tons per month in Xcalak and two tons per month in Cozumel, Vigía Chico and Cozumel; fishing gears
include Australian style lobster traps, lobster nets, artificial habitats to attract lobsters, turtle nets,
shrimp nets, snapper reels, shark longlines, nets-including seines and gill nets, lobster gaffs, spearguns,
handlines
1980: Outbreak of White band disease in A. cervicornis and A. palmata; Hurricane Allen (Category 5)
1981: Creation of the local fishing cooperative with 38 partners (lobster, queen conch, and fish using mostly
spear-guns)
1982: Mass mortality of Diadema antillarum
1988: Hurricane Gilbert (Category 5); Hurricane Keith (Category 1); beginning of trap lobster fishing on the
deep fore reef /shelf edge and net trapping of migrating snappers in the reef lagoon.
1989: Second Puerto Morelos reefs survey: severe drop in coral cover (loss of 68-85%, mostly due to the
Acroporids demise).
1990: Cancún and nearby areas population 176,765; 1.5 million tourist visits
1992: CARICOMP surveys begin
1995: First massive bleaching event recorded affected > 50 % coral colonies; Hurricane Roxanne (Category
3); Cancun and Isla Mujeres reef National Park created
1997: Mild bleaching event – subjective estimation < 20 % coral colonies.
1998: Mild bleaching event - subjective estimation affecting 20-50% coral colonies; outbreak of white-pox
disease in A. palmata (prevalence = 9%).
1998: Creation of the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, fishing is banned; beginning of massive coral
bleaching; Hurricane Mitch (Category 5) struck Quintana Roo Coast
1999: Most fisherman change fishing to become snorkeling and dive operators
2000: Cancún and nearby areas population 419,815; 3 million tourist visits; Mahahual cruise pier construction
begins; first observation of yellow-band disease in Mexico from Quintana Roo; Hurricane Keith
2001: Epizootic of yellow-band disease in M. annularis species complex (prevalence = 22%)
2002: Permanent ban for fishing queen conch; Hurricane Isidore (Category 3) over northern Quintana Roo
2003: Bleaching event, affecting 20-50% coral colonies.
2004: Bleaching event, affecting 20-50% coral colonies; high prevalence of yellow-band disease (52%) and
white-pox diseases (11%); Hurricane Ivan (Category 5)
2005: Hurricanes Emily (Category 3); Wilma (Category 4) devastates Cozumel and northern Quintana Roo
reefs; bleaching event affecting >50% coral colonies.
2006-2008: Mild bleaching events, affecting