By Environmental News Network staff.
CNN. December 13, 2000. Web posted at: 1:30
p.m. EST (1830 GMT)
Many of the pristine white sand beaches that once lured Earnest Hemingway to
Cuba remain untouched.
Floating at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of
Mexico, Cuba is home to some of the world's most spectacular coral reefs and
sportfishing opportunities.
Until recently, many of the country's ecological attractions were
inaccessible to Western travelers. In 40 years of socialist rule and financial
strain, coastal development and fishery harvesting in Cuba hasn't been as
rampant as in neighboring Caribbean countries.
But hotels are popping up across the once forbidden island.
With its sugar sector in decline, Cuba is banking on tourism to power its
needy economy into the 21st century.
Since the early 1990s, tourism has skyrocketed to almost 2 million foreign
visitors a year, and that number is expected to reach 5 million by 2005.
Conservation groups are keeping a close eye on development and its effects
on the environment.
Last week mre than 450 scientists from 25 countries gathered in Havana for
the fifth Cuban Marine Science Congress. The scientists presented new research
on marine conservation and discussed management of depleted fisheries and the
impact of coastal tourism.
Because of prevailing ocean currents and Cuba's proximity to Florida,
conservation of the country's fisheries may serve the interests of U.S.
fisheries as well
"Cuba is the Caribbean's biological crown jewel," said
Environmental Defense senior scientist Ken Lindeman. "With over 3,000 miles
of coastline and 4,200 islets and keys, Cuba is literally teeming with marine
and terrestrial treasures."
For the past six years, Lindeman has worked with leading Cuban researchers
to establish a scientific foundation for proactive marine conservation in Cuba.
Hamstrung by strict regulations governing funding and human resources
between the United States and Cuba, conservation groups have had to take the
less traveled road in their attempt to protect Cuba's environment.
"You have to be creative and emphasize an educational and informational
approach," Lindeman said. "We can go down there and work
shoulder-to-shoulder with these people as long as we do not exchange money or
any other capital resources."
Cuba's late start in the tourism game may be a benefit because it can learn
from the mistakes that other Caribbean tourist destinations have made. At the
Havana conference, scientists exchanged case studies on eco-tourism and marine
conservation that have been conducted in Australia and North America.
The future of Cuba's marine resources may be of particular interest to U.S.
fisheries managers.
Three of Cuba's massive reef tracts are longer than the Florida Keys and
provide exceptional spawning grounds for grouper, snapper and lobster. Because
of prevailing ocean currents and Cuba's proximity to Florida, the conservation
of the country's fisheries may help replenish U.S. fisheries as well.
"Cuba is at a historic crossroads," Lindeman said. "Coastal
development and overfishing have begun to damage these resources. Environmental
Defense and our Cuban colleagues are working to ensure Cuba's resources are
preserved for future generations."
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