ReefKeeper International has asked Puerto Rico's Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to take appropriate action without delay to adopt management plans for the recently created marine reserves at Desecheo Island and Mona Island. Management measures should be adopted to provide no-take zones within each of the reserves where the taking of all marine organisms would not be allowed. Anchoring should be prohibited on coral reefs and large vessel traffic avoidance measures should be implemented. Special management measures should be developed to prevent fish trapping and tropical fish collecting practices from adversely impacting the fragile coral reefs in both the Desecheo Marine Reserve and the Mona Island Natural Reserve.
ABOUT DESECHEO ISLAND
Desecheo Island, with a mean diameter of only 1.1 miles, is situated some ten miles from Puerto Rico's northwest corner. The island itself is under the protection of the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a National Wildlife Refuge. The coral reefs and marine habitats within one-half mile of the island were designated as a Commonwealth Natural Reserve in March 2000.
Desecheo's reefs show a high degree of hard coral species richness and cover. In addition, the water clarity is extremely high with underwater horizontal visibility exceeding 65 feet regardless of season.
To document the ecological value of Desecheo's reefs, ReefKeeper International has sponsored an ongoing survey of the reefs in collaboration with the local group Comite ProFondo Desecheo. Bottom cover surveys have been conducted on 6 patch reefs that encircle the southwest coast of Desecheo Island. All 6 sites show bottoms dominated by hard coral, with coral cover ranging from 40-49%, averaging 44%. There are at least 21 hard coral species present.
The reef surveys show that Desecheo's reefs have very high coral cover and low disease. However, many of the area's dominant coral species are fragile branching types which are particularly vulnerable to breakage from anchor and trap impacts. There is also evidence of boulder corals dying from being turned over, most likely by either boaters pulling up anchors or tropical fish collectors looking for specimens.
The overall results of ReefKeeper-sponsored surveys show that Desecheo's coral reefs are in near-pristine condition. This data, and the consistently high underwater visibility, indicate little or no impact to these reefs from either coastal pollution or sedimentation.
Damage to these reefs is much more likely to come from anchor and fishing gear impacts, dislodging of coral heads during fish collecting, and use of fish collection chemicals. There are currently no site-specific regulations in place to prevent or minimize any of this damage at Desecheo.
ABOUT MONA ISLAND
Mona Island, located some 40 miles from Puerto Rico's west coast, is composed of caves and unspoiled beaches. The 24 square mile island itself is uninhabited.
Mona's coral reef ecosystem includes spur and groove formations, barrier and patch reefs, underwater caves, vertical walls and other coral habitats. The reefs are rich in species diversity and among the most developed and least spoiled of Puerto Rico. Over 270 species of fish call the Mona Island coral reefs home.
Since 1919, Mona Island has been established as a Commonwealth Natural Reserve. However, until recently, area waters surrounding the island were not included inside the reserve -- leaving the magnificent coral reefs which surround the island vulnerable to damage and exploitation. To provide protection to the island's reefs, the Natural Reserve's boundaries were expanded in October 1997 to include the waters out to 9 nautical miles from the island. Now the good intentions of the government of Puerto Rico need to be put into action in the form of a management plan for Mona's marine waters. Measures to regulate potentially damaging activities must be instituted to preserve the area's great biodiversity. These controls should include mooring buoys, prohibition on coastal construction, limited "no-take" areas to restore fish abundance, and prohibitions on anchoring on coral, setting fish traps near coral and other destructive practices.
In addition, the International Maritime Organization should be petitioned to establish a shipping no-traffic buffer zone around Mona. In July of 1997, the freighter Fortuna Reefer slammed into the Mona reef line causing extensive damage to the elkhorn coral forest off Pajaros Beach. Ship traffic regularly skirts the island which lies in the middle of the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. As part of its management plan request, ReefKeeper has asked that an internationally recognized Area To Be Avoided be declared around Mona Island.