Conservation shadows development in Cuba

Environmental Defense scientist Ken Lindeman talks with fishermen at the port of Bataban on the southern coast of Cuba

By Environmental News Network staff

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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