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PLAN!OF!ACTION:!TRINATIONAL!
INITIATIVE!FOR!MARINE!SCIENCE!
AND!CONSERVATION!IN!THE!GULF!
OF!MEXICO!AND!WESTERN!
CARIBBEAN!
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A!multinational!partnership!since!2007!to!study!and!protect!
shared!marine!and!costal!resources!
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PLAN!OF!ACTION:!CUBA8MEXICO8US!COLLABORATION!!
IN!MARINE!SCIENCE!&!CONSERVATION!
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To!Advance!Collaboration!in!Science!&!Conservation!in!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!&!Western!Caribbean!
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Sponsored!by!the!Christopher!J.!Reynolds!Foundation,!the!Bay!and!Paul!Foundations,!the!Ford!
Foundation,!Sherritt!International!and!Fondel!Finance!B.V.!
20!July!2012!
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Cover!photo:!Rays!of!sunlight!off!the!Cuban!Gulf!of!Mexico!Coast!
Photo!credits:!David!E.!Guggenheim
Contents!
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EXECUTIVE!SUMMARY!.............................................................................................................................!I!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!..........................................................................................................................!III!
BACKGROUND!........................................................................................................................................!1!
APPENDIX!A:!SIX!PLANS!OF!ACTION:!STRATEGY,!TIMELINE!AND!ACTIONS!TO!ADVANCE!PRIORITIES!.......!3!
18Coral!Reef!Research!and!Conservation!....................................................................................................!4!
28Shark!Research!and!Conservation!..........................................................................................................!10!
38Sea!Turtle!Research!and!Conservation!...................................................................................................!12!
48Marine!Mammal!Research!and!Conservation!........................................................................................!19!
58Research,!Conservation!&!Management!of!Fish!Resources!...................................................................!25!
68Strengthening!and!Extending!the!System!of!Protected!Areas!...............................................................!32!
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PLAN!OF!ACTION:!TRINATIONAL!INITIATIVE!
!
Executive!Summary!
!
In!2007!a!group!of!Cuban!and!American!scientists!gathered!in!Cancún,!México!in!what!would!become!
an!historic!meeting!to!advance!joint!marine!research!and!conservation!activities!between!the!U.S.,!
Cuba!and!Mexico.!The!gathering!was!the!brainchild!of!the!Center!for!International!Policy,!the!Cuban!
Ministry!of!Science,!Technology!and!Environment!(CITMA)!and!the!Harte!Research!Institute!for!Gulf!of!
Mexico!Studies.!The!goals!of!the!meeting!were!to!establish!a!framework!for!collaboration!between!the!
three!countries!for!ongoing!joint!scientific!research!and!to!develop!a!regional!plan!of!action!designed!
to!preserve!and!protect!our!surrounding!and!shared!waters!and!marine!habitats.!The!Cancún!meeting!
became!the!catalyst!for!a!series!of!subsequent!workshops!in!Veracruz,!Mexico!(2009),!Havana,!Cuba!
(2009)!and!Sarasota,!Florida!(2010).!
!
This!document!is!a!summary!of!these!meetings!as!well!as!a!road!map!and!planning!document!for!
implementing!new!collaborative!efforts.!It!is!the!outcome!of!a!five8year!effort!involving!almost!100!
different!scientists!and!policymakers!to!advance!research!aimed!at!developing!a!heightened!
understanding!of!the!environmental!issues!facing!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!adjacent!waters.!A!body!of!
water!measuring!600,000!square!miles,!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!is!home!to!a!growing!population!of!over!75!
million!residents.!The!Gulf!faces!increasing!threats!to!its!function!as!an!ecosystem!including!natural!
disasters!and!anthropogenic!pollution.!Also!included!are!manmade!disasters,!such!as!the!catastrophic!
2010!Deepwater!Horizon!oil!spill,!which!clearly!illustrated!the!need!to!work!together!to!protect!fragile!
coastlines.!Solutions!to!the!threats!facing!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!western!Caribbean!should!be!based!
on!sound!science!that!transcends!political!boundaries.!!!
!
Because!of!the!decades8old!U.S.!economic!embargo!of!Cuba,!collaboration!between!U.S.!and!Cuba!
remains!difficult.!Even!though!scientific!research!is!a!permitted!activity!and!U.S.!scientists!are!allowed!
to!travel!to!Cuba,!the!harsh!logistical!and!political!realities!have!prevented!all!but!a!few!U.S.!
institutions!from!successful!collaborative!projects!in!Cuba.!Recognizing!the!critical!need!for!more!
scientific!research!in!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!Western!Caribbean!–!and!the!key!role!that!Cuban!waters!
play!in!the!ecosystem!–!the!Trinational!Initiative!for!Marine!Research!and!Conservation!in!the!Gulf!of!
Mexico!and!Western!Caribbean!(www.trinationalinitiative.org)!brings!together!major!institutions!to!
establish!research!priorities!and!chart!a!way!forward!toward!stronger!and!more!comprehensive!
collaborative!activities.!
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Specific!objectives!of!the!Initiative!include:!
!
• Creating!a!prioritized!Plan!of!Action!that!reflects!and!advances!the!priorities!established!at!the!
Cancún!meeting!
• Implementing!the!Plan!of!Action!by!creating!specific!projects,!milestones,!partnerships!and!a!
mechanism!for!ongoing!information!sharing!and!improvement!
• Improving!coordination!of!collaborative!activities,!increasing!efficiency,!realizing!synergies,!and!
reducing!duplication!
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Addressing!critical!research!and!conservation!needs!currently!not!being!met!
Providing!new!academic!research!opportunities!for!Cuban!undergraduate!and!graduate!
students!
Disseminating!new!data!and!insights!through!peer8reviewed!publications!and!other!literature!
and!media!
Expanding!funding!opportunities!for!Cuban!marine!research!and!conservation!efforts!through!
the!use!of!the!consensus8driven!Plan!of!Action!as!a!road!map!
Establishing!strong!communication,!information!sharing,!and!enduring!ties!among!the!
organizations!involved!
The!framework!for!a!plan!of!action!was!established!in!Cancún!and!is!focused!on!six!thematic!priorities:!
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•
Research!and!conservation!of!coral!reefs!
•
Research!and!conservation!of!sharks!
•
Research!and!conservation!of!sea!turtles!
•
Research!and!conservation!of!marine!mammals!
•
Research,!conservation!and!management!of!fish!resources!
•
Strengthening!and!extending!the!system!of!protected!areas!
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Working!groups,!headed!by!a!representative!from!each!country,!were!formed!around!each!of!these!
priorities.!!It!was!agreed!that!all!involved!would!focus!their!efforts!to!support!these!priorities!and!reach!
out!to!involve!other!organizations!in!the!endeavor.!The!group!agreed!to!meet!regularly!to!provide!
updates,!work!together!to!secure!funds,!plan!future!research!and!conservation!projects!and!report!
findings!at!Trinational!Initiative!workshops.!!
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The!next!meeting!of!the!Trinational!Initiative!is!tentatively!scheduled!for!October!28th,!2012!in!Havana,!
Cuba!on!the!eve!of!the!Cuban!Marine!Science!Congress!(MarCuba!2012).!In!preparation!for!this!
workshop!we!have!attached!all!of!the!six!thematic!reports!(See!Appendix!C),!which!will!be!updated!
with!scientific!results!to!date!and!new!program!objectives.!!!
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It!is!the!hope!of!all!of!the!agencies!from!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US!that!make!up!this!historical!group!to!
continue!their!efforts!at!understanding!this!important!region.!On!behalf!of!The!Ocean!Foundation,!I!
look!forward!to!the!next!phase!of!the!Initiative,!which!is!to!analyze!data!compiled!over!five!years!of!
collaboration!by!multinational!teams!of!researchers!and!chart!the!course!for!continued!partnership.!!
!
Sincerely,!!
!
Mark!J.!Spalding,!J.D.,!M.P.I.A.!
President,!The!Ocean!Foundation!
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Acknowledgements
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This!effort!has!been!made!possible!by!generous!support!from!the!Christopher!J.!Reynolds!Foundation,!
the!Bay!and!Paul!Foundations,!the!Ford!Foundation!and!Fondel!Finance!B.V.!Special!thanks!to!the!
Cuban!Ministry!of!Science,!Technology!and!Environment!(CITMA),!the!Secretariat!of!the!Mexican!Navy!
and!Mote!Marine!Laboratory!for!hosting!workshops.!This!effort!would!not!be!possible!without!the!
vision!and!leadership!of!Dr.!Wayne!S.!Smith!at!the!Center!for!International!Policy!(CIP)!and!Admiral!
Alberto!Vazquez!de!la!Cerda.!The!organizers!extend!a!very!special!thanks!to!the!participants!in!this!
effort!for!their!spirited,!constructive,!open!and!honest!engagement!in!this!landmark!project.!
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Finally,!this!effort!is!dedicated!to!the!memory!of!Dr.!María!Elena!Ibarra!Martín!(193282009),!Director!of!
Cuba’s!Center!for!Marine!Research!of!the!University!of!Havana.!During!her!lifetime,!Dr.!Ibarra!
constantly!exemplified!love!for!the!oceans!and!an!unrivaled!spirit!of!collaboration.!!
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Figure!1.!Meeting!Participants!of!the!Veracruz,!México!Workshop,!March!2009!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Background!
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On!November!182,!2007,!a!group!of!15!Cuban!and!15!American!scientists!met!in!Cancún,!Mexico!to!
take!joint!marine!research!and!conservation!activities!between!the!U.S.!and!Cuba!to!a!new!level,!with!a!
goal!of!establishing!a!framework!for!collaboration!between!Cuba,!México!and!the!United!States!for!
ongoing!joint!scientific!research!and!to!develop!a!regional!plan!of!action!designed!to!preserve!and!
protect!our!surrounding!and!shared!waters!and!marine!habitats.!!
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The!first!follow8up!meeting!was!held!successfully!in!Veracruz,!Mexico!in!March!2009.!A!draft!Plan!of!
Action,!based!on!the!priorities!established!at!the!Cancún!meeting,!was!initiated!at!the!Veracruz!
meeting!and!a!draft!released!in!October!2009.!!
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On!October!25826,!2009!the!third!meeting!of!an!expanding!partnership!of!U.S,!Cuban!and!Mexican!
institutions!convened!in!Havana,!Cuba!(Figure!2)!and!resulted!in!the!near8finalization!of!the!Plan!of!
Action.!The!ongoing!effort,!led!by!The!Ocean!Foundation,!the!Center!for!International!Policy,!the!Cuban!
Ministry!of!Science,!Technology!and!the!Environment,!and!the!Mexican!Secretariat!of!the!Navy!set!the!
stage!for!an!unprecedented!level!of!collaboration!among!the!three!nations,!including!the!creation!of!
new!projects!and!partnerships!along!with!the!potential!for!additional!funding!to!support!them.!
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Figure!2.!The!Coral!Reef!Working!Group!convenes!during!the!third!
!triXnational!workshop!held!in!Havana,!October!2009!
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This!Plan!of!Action!focuses!on!research!and!conservation!priorities!in!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!Western!
Caribbean,!priorities!considered!nearly!impossible!without!the!concerted!collaboration!of!all!three!
nations.!Because!of!the!U.S.!trade!embargo!imposed!against!Cuba,!participation!on!the!U.S.!side!has!
thus!far!been!limited!to!nongovernmental!organizations.!The!Havana!meeting!was!the!largest!yet,!
bringing!together!a!total!of!nearly!60!participants!representing!the!three!countries.!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
The!Plan!of!Action!was!constructed!to!serve!several!purposes:!
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• Clearly!identify!and!prioritize!future!activities!
• Provide!the!basis!for!a!comprehensive!and!integrated!joint!marine!research!program!
• Provide!the!basis!for!coordinated!planning!efforts!
• Facilitate!joint!funding!activities!
!
A!fourth!meeting!took!place!from!September!27829,!2010!in!Sarasota,!Florida!(Figure!3).!Seventeen!
Cuban!scientists!received!visas!to!enter!the!United!States,!a!milestone!considering!that!very!few!Cuban!
scientists!were!granted!permission!to!travel!to!the!U.S.!during!the!preceding!decade.!The!outcome!of!
the!Sarasota!conference!was!to!finalize!the!Plan!of!Action!and!launch!each!of!the!six!thematic!groups!
into!a!new!phase!where!they!would!organize!their!own!meetings!to!plan!research!and!conduct!their!
own!projects.!!
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Figure!3.!2010!Sarasota!workshop!conferees!
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List!of!Participant!Institutions!
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Cuba:!Acuario!Nacional!de!Cuba;!Centro!de!Investigaciones!Pesqueras;!Centro!Nacional!de!Áreas!
Protegidas;!Centro!Nacional!de!Áreas!Protegidas;!Ministerio!de!Ciencia,!Tecnologia!y!Medio!(co8
organizer);!Ministerio!de!la!Pesca;!Universidad!de!La!Habana,!Centro!de!Investigaciones!Marinas;!
Centro!de!Investigaciones!Ecosistemas!Costeras!
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Mexico:!Centro!Interdisciplinario!de!Ciencias!Marinas;!Comission!Nacional!de!Areas!Naturales!
Protegidas;!Instituto!Nacional!de!Pesca;!Instituto!Politécnico!Nacional;!Secretaria!de!Marina!(co8
organizer);!Universidad!Nacional!Autonoma!de!México;!Universidad!Veracruzana!
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USA:!The!Ocean!Foundation!(co8organizer);!Center!for!International!Policy!(co8organizer);!
Environmental!Defense!Fund;!Harte!Research!Institute!for!Gulf!of!Mexico!Studies;!Mote!Marine!
Laboratory;!Chicago!Zoological!Society;!The!Nature!Conservancy,!Sea2Shore!Alliance,!Brookfield!Zoo,!
University!of!South!Florida,!Florida!International!University!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Appendix!A:!Action!Plans!from!Six!Thematic!
Groups*.!!
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*The!attached!individual!thematic!action!plan!documents!were!complied!during!or!shortly!after!the!
September!2010!workshop!at!Mote!Marine!Laboratory!in!Sarasota,!Florida.!They!have!not!been!
updated!in!order!to!maintain!their!integrity!and!to!provide!a!baseline!for!which!the!plans!can!be!
updated!during!a!workshop!tentatively!planned!for!October!28th,!2012!in!Havana,!Cuba.!However,!their!
format!has!been!standardized!for!ease!in!review!and!expansion.!!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Coral!Reef!Research!and!Conservation!
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Many!of!Cuba’s!coral!reefs!appear!to!be!healthier!than!those!elsewhere!in!the!Caribbean,!and!for!the!
most!part,!do!not!exhibit!the!widespread!disease!and!mortality!seen!throughout!the!region,!such!as!
around!the!Florida!Keys,!Jamaica,!and!Mexico.!There!is!great!interest!in!better!assessing!the!health!of!
Cuba’s!reefs,!along!with!biotic!and!abiotic!factors!and!human!impacts,!to!provide!insights!that!could!be!
helpful!for!coral!reef!conservation!policies!throughout!the!region.!!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!
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1. AGRRA!Research:!Continue!the!joint!Cuba8AGRRA1!coral!reef!condition!assessments!and!re8visit!
selected!sites.!
a. Expand!to!Caribbean!(e.g.,!Dominican!Republic,!Jamaica,!Puerto!Rico),!including!
outreach!to!the!larger!Caribbean!community!
b. Produce!Millennium!Maps!of!Caribbean!with!classified!habitats!throughout!the!region!
2. Coral!Health!Indicators:!Expand!the!collection!and!analysis!of!indicators!of!coral!and!coral!reef!
condition,!including!biotic!and!physical!variables,!DNA:!RNA!ratio,!hyper8spectral!remote!
sensing,!etc.!!
3. Coral!Reef!Connectivity:!Assess!coral!reef!demographic!connectivity!at!a!range!of!scales,!
including!national!and!regional!levels,!through!analysis!of!oceanographic!and!geographic!
factors,!larval!tracking,!and!molecular!biological!inferences.!
4. Coral!Reef!Resilience:!Continue!and!expand!research!to!identify!the!potentially!resilient!coral!
reefs!of!Cuba!to!support!the!National!System!of!Protected!Areas!in!planning!and!management.!
5. ScleroXChronology!Research:!Conduct!sclero8chronology!research!on!stony!corals!in!order!to!
assess!past!human!influences!on!coral!reef!ecosystems!and!to!analyze!the!impacts!of!climate!
change.!!
6. Zooxanthellae!Dynamics:!Conduct!research!on!the!dynamics!of!zooxanthellae!in!selected!corals!
that!are!especially!prone!to!diseases.!
7. Study!Impacts!of!Climate!Change!on!Corals.!Advance!response!measures!to!climate!change!to!
increase!the!resilience!of!Acropora!corals!in!Cuba,!northern!Yucatan!and!Florida.!!
8. Exchange!Between!Coral!Reefs!and!LandXShelfXOcean!Boundaries:!Examine!conservative!and!
non8conservative!parameter!exchange!between!coral!reefs!and!land8shelf8ocean!boundaries.!
9. Coral!Diseases:!Expand!research!of!coral!microbiology!and!diseases!
10. Understanding!Why!Cuba’s!Coral!Communities!Remain!Relatively!Healthy:!Study!Cuba’s!
healthy!Acropora!colonies,!especially!two!areas!on!Cuba’s!southern!coast,!which!offer!“visions!
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The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program is an international collaboration of scientists and
mangers aimed at determining the regional condition of reefs in the Western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. See
http://www.agrra.org
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
of!the!past,”!i.e.,!demonstrate!the!level!of!health!found!decades!ago!in!corals!elsewhere!in!the!
Caribbean.!Possibly!use!these!coral!communities!as!regional!examples!in!order!to!better!
understand!the!changes!that!have!taken!place!elsewhere.!
11. !Understanding!LandXSea!Connections:!Build!relationships!with!centers!in!Cuba!around!coastal!
areas!to!better!understand!how!coastal!environments!have!changed,!including!specifically!how!
land!use!has!affected!the!health!of!Cuba’s!coral!reefs!and!other!marine!life.!
12. Coral!Mapping:!Conduct!research!to!map!and!assess!the!health!of!Cuba’s!coral!ecosystems.!
NearXTerm!and!LongXTerm!Priority!Actions!
Action'Area'1:'Study!Impacts!of!Climate!Change!on!Corals!and!Enhance!Adaptation!Strategies!
!
The!following!Action!Area!was!agreed!to!in!consensus!as!a!high!priority!concern!by!members!of!the!
Coral!Reef!Group!at!the!Sarasota!Trinational!Initiative!Workshop!in!October!2010.!This!consensus!was!
expressed!as!an!amended!document!composed!by!Pedro!Alcolado!of!the!Cuban!Instituto!de!
Oceanologia!(IDO)!on!October!8th,!2011.!It!was!decided!to!advance!the!response!measures!to!climate!
change!to!increase!the!resilience!of!Acropora!corals!in!Cuba,!northern!Yucatan!and!Florida.!This!project!
should!be!considered!to!be!in!its!initial!phase.!It!is!part!of!a!priority!effort!already!approved!by!the!
Cuban!authorities.!
Fundraising!for!this!Effort!!
!
After!reanalyzing!the!cost!of!the!Project,!we!propose!increasing!the!budget!of!the!Coral!Reef!group!
from!$192,000!to!$300,000!(USD).!Phillip!Kramer!(TNC)!and!Kim!Ritchie!(Mote)!have!spearheaded!the!
fundraising!effort!for!the!Coral!Reef!group!along!with!Jaime!González!Cano!(CONAMP),!Robert!N.!
Ginsburg!(ORE),!David!Vaughan!(Mote)!and!Frank!Muller8Karger!(USF).!Pedro!M.!Alcolado!(IDO)!is!the!
program!liaison.!
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Kim!Ritchie!is!in!charge!of!writing!and!submitting!a!fundraising!proposal!to!the!Moore!Foundation!by!
November!4th,!2010!to!fund!the!efforts!of!the!Coral!Reef!group!with!an!emphasis!on!coral!
microbiology.!
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Phil!Kramer!will!approach!the!Tinker!Foundation!through!its!representative!Meg!Cushing!who!was!
present!at!the!Sarasota!workshop.!This!proposal!should!be!ready!for!submission!by!January!2011.!The!
work!proposed!to!Tinker!should!be!focused!on!management!activities!related!to!corals.!The!proposal!
should!comply!with!the!priorities!of!the!foundation!including!marine!protected!areas.!!
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Frank!Muller8Karger!will!spearhead!funding!requests!to!NOAA!and!other!international!funders!to!
implement!activities!related!to!the!analysis!of!environmental!indicators!of!the!three!major!reef!areas!
of!Cuba.!Luis!Barreras!of!CITMA!made!it!clear!that!US!based!funds!would!probably!not!be!approved!by!
the!Cuban!government!but!we!could!try.!!
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For!activities!related!to!scientific!exchanges!based!in!the!US!we!agreed!that!the!funding!level!would!
need!to!be!increased!from!$12,000!to!$20,000.!We!plan!on!submitting!a!proposal!in!January!2011!to!
Mote’s!Protect!our!Reefs!grant!program!to!begin!program!work!in!May!2011.!!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
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Jaime!González8Cano!will!apply!for!European!funds!for!an!exchange!in!Mexico!and!for!work!on!coral!
restoration.!!We!agreed!that!a!coral!specialist!with!CIEC!and!a!counterpart!in!the!US!should!participate!
in!a!workshop!on!coral!restoration!taking!over!two!weeks!starting!on!October!13th,!2011!as!a!way!to!
kick!off!the!actions!herein!listed.!At!the!time!of!writing,!Leslie!Hernández!of!CIEC!was!on!her!way!to!this!
workshop.!!!
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During!Pedro!Alcolado’s!time!in!Miami,!he!was!able!to!speak!with!Bob!Ginsburg!about!the!activities!
discussed!to!bring!him!into!the!loop.!!
Short!Term!Actions!
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• Two!Cuban!scientists!(from!IDO!and!CIEC)!to!participate!in!a!training!on!the!interpretation!and!
application!of!high!resolution!satellite!imagery!for!six!months!at!USF!during!the!first!half!of!
2011.!!
• Two!Cuban!microbiologists!from!IDO!to!be!trained!in!advanced!microbiology!techniques!on!
corals!and!sea!water!at!Mote!Marine!Lab!(August!15822,!2011).!
• Four!Cuban!coral!reef!experts!to!be!trained!in!responses!to!coral!bleaching!at!Mote!Marine!Lab!
(August!15822,!2011).!
Participants!
!
Pedro!M.!Alcolado!(IDO,!Cuba)!
Fabián!Pina!Amargós!(CIEC,!Cuba)!
Jaime!González!Cano!(CONAMP,!México)!
Phillip!Kramer!(TNC,!EEUU)!
Kim!Ritchie!(Mote!Marine!Laboratory,!EEUU)!
David!Vaughan!(Mote!Marine!Laboratory,!EEUU)!
Frank!Muller8Karger!(USF,!EEUU)!
Action'Area'2:'Acropora'Palmata'Assessment'
!
Objectives:!
•
To!understand!which!are!the!main!factors!that!contribute!to!the!persistence!of!Acropora!
palmata!dominated!coral!reefs,!under!the!current!conditions!imposed!by!climate!change!
and/or!climate!variability,!to!guide!both!the!environmental!management!activities!and!the!
selection!of!protected!areas.!
•
To!establish!the!connectivity!level!of!Acropora!palmata!between!southern!Cuba!and!both!Gulf!
of!Mexico!and!Florida,!as!well!as!the!Wider!Caribbean!as!a!whole.!This!will!contribute!to!a!
better!conservation!approach!in!the!region.!!
Focused!mainly!on!the!coral!Acropora'palmata:!!
•
Main!constructor!of!shallow!coral!reefs!in!the!Wider!Caribbean,!!
•
Great!significance!for!coastal!protection!and!its!natural!resources!and!investments,!as!well!as!
for!fisheries,!recreation!and!tourism.!!
Page 6
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
•
!Considered!as!endangered!species!by!NOAA!!
Results!will!allow!a!better!understanding!of:!
•
•
•
Coral!reef!dynamics!and!resilience!against!changes!induced!by!climate!change!and/or!
climatic!variability,!!
!
The!degree!of!connectivity!of!Acropora!palmata!populations!in!the!Wider!Caribbean!and!
southern!Cuba.!!
!!
This!understanding!is!critical!for:!!
!
• A!better!spatial!design!of!protected!area!networks!at!the!national!and!regional!level,!!
• A!better!approach!for!the!coral!reef!use!and!protection!strategies!and!action!plans!!
Major!Activities!Planned!
!
• Two!joint!coral!reef!15!days!expeditions!to!the!Archipiélago!de!los!Canarreos!and!
Archipiélago!Jardines!de!la!Reina!(baseline!information!available!from!two!Cuba8AGRRA!
expeditions!in!2001).!
• Key!components!of!coral!reef!benthic!and!fish!communities!will!be!assessed!(AGRRA!
protocol).!
• Small!samples!of!Acropora!palmata!for!genetic!analysis!will!be!obtained.!!
• RNA:!DNA!ratio!will!be!applied!as!coral!health!indicator!(reflecting!protein!synthesis!
intensity).!
• Water,!phytoplankton!and!zooplankton!will!be!sampled!to!assess!water!nitrification!level,!
alkalinity,!salinity,!water!productivity!and!coral!food!availability.!!
• Cuban,!Mexican!and!North!American!specialists!would!be!exchanged!through!stays!in!the!
involved!countries,!to!apply!relevant!advanced!methods!and!technologies,!to!interpret!of!
data!and!results,!to!elaborate!joint!reports!and!to!participate!in!workshops.!!
• This!collaboration!includes!the!aim!to!train!Cuban!and!Mexican!researchers!in!state!of!the!
art!in!coral!reef!research.!
Figure!1.!Coral!reef!sites!of!interest!(Action!2!X!Preliminary)!
!
Page 7
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Action'Area'3:'Coral'Reefs:'Conservative'and'Non:Conservative'Parameters'Exchange'
!
Objectives:!
•
To!understand!how!and!in!what!extent!the!exchange!of!conservative!and!non8conservative!
parameters!between!coral!reefs!and!the!frontier!land8shelf8ocean!determine!the!condition!of!
coral!reefs.!!!!!
Results!will!allow!for!a!better!understanding!of:!
•
•
•
The!spatial8temporal!behavior!of!oceanographic!conservative!and!non8conservative!variables!at!
the!frontiers!between!coral!reefs!and!open!oceanic!waters.!
The!dispersion!of!marine!organisms.!
The!advection!and!dispersion!of!any!substance!between!both!systems.!!
!
This!understanding!is!critical!for:!
!
• Improving!the!knowledge!about!the!oceanographic!connectivity!between!interacting!water!
bodies.!
• Improving!the!knowledge!about!the!demographic!connectivity!of!populations!of!species!of!
economic!and!conservation!significance.!!
• Establishing!the!basis!for!a!better!management!of!fisheries!and!biodiversity,!at!the!landscape!
level.!!
Main!Activities!Planned:!
!
• Joint!expeditions!to!the!archipelagos!of!Los!Canarreos!(SW!!Cuba)!and/or!Los!Colorados!(NW!
Cuba)!!(15820!days!duration)!planned!across!the!first!4!years.!!
• Measuring!marine!currents!with!current8meters!deployed!during!30!days!to!represent!a!whole!
tidal!cycle.!!
• Water!and!sediment!samples!will!be!taken!for!!measuring!temperature,!salinity,!density,!
oxygen,!nutrients,!organic!carbon!and!nitrogen,!and!inorganic!and!total!phosphorus,!heavy!
metals!and!oil!hydrocarbons.!!
• Heavy!metals!will!be!determined!in!surface!sediments,!suspended!matter!and!the!corals!Porites!
porites!and!Acropora!palmata.!!
• The!activities!include!stays!of!Cuban,!North!American!and!Mexican!specialists!in!Cuba!and!USA,!
to!jointly!apply!the!relevant!methods!and!technologies,!process!data,!interpret!results,!
elaborate!reports!and!hold!scientific!workshops.!!
Page 8
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Figure!2.!Coral!reef!sites!of!interest!(Action!2!X!Preliminary)!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Page 9
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Shark!Research!and!Conservation!
!
Activities!of!this!working!group!of!the!Trinational!Initiative!are!designed!to!enhance!fundamental!
knowledge!of!the!shark!fauna!of!the!Gulf!&!Caribbean!and!to!respond!to!fisheries,!management!and!
public!requests!for!information,!with!the!goal!of!effecting!policy!and!decision8making!in!issues!
concerning!shark!populations!and!fisheries!and!conservation!plans!in!the!region.!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!
!
Because!of!their!slow!growth!rate,!slow!rate!of!reproduction,!and!the!long!period!required!for!sexual!
maturity,!sharks!have!proven!to!be!especially!vulnerable!to!fishing!and!other!human!impacts.!Recent!
studies!have!indicated!severe!declines!of!top!predators,!including!sharks,!in!ocean!ecosystems!over!the!
past!50!years.!In!the!Gulf!of!Mexico,!some!studies!have!suggested!a!reduction!of!as!high!as!99!percent!
in!species!such!as!the!oceanic!whitetip!shark!since!the!1950s.!As!many!species!of!sharks!are!highly!
migratory,!studying!sharks!in!Cuban,!Mexican!and!US!waters!will!help!improve!understanding!of!
interconnections!and!opportunities!for!conservation!in!the!Gulf!and!Caribbean.!!Priorities!include!(not!
in!rank!order):!
!
1. Shark!Landings!Data:!Conduct!sampling!of!commercial!and!sport!shark!landings!to!update!
species!composition!and!characteristics!of!individuals!landed!(size,!sex,!fecundity,!etc.)!in!Cuba!
and!Mexico!in!a!standardized!fashion!to!US!landings!data!programs;!analyze!landings!data!on!
regional,!species8specific!scales!for!stock!assessment!!
2. Shark!Sampling!and!Tagging:!Conduct!research!expeditions!for!oceanic!and!coastal!shark!
sampling!and!tagging!for!studies!of!shark!migration,!connectedness!among!countries,!and!stock!
identification!!!
3. Whale!Shark!Studies:!Conduct!research!expeditions!to!study!whale!shark!populations!in!Cuban!
waters,!tagging,!etc.,!expanding!upon!ongoing!studies!in!Mexican!and!US!waters!!!!
4. Increase!Shark!Collections:!Build!collection!of!biological!material!(teeth,!embryos,!organs,!
embalmed!specimens)!for!teaching!and!educational!purposes!at!the!University!of!Havana.!
5. Effects!of!Climate!Change!on!Shark!Populations.!!Determine!the!impacts!of!climate!change!on!
the!biology!and!human!utilization!of!sharks!in!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!Caribbean!Sea.!
6. Specific!Management!Strategies!to!Address!Overfishing!of!Sharks.!!Improve!conservation!of!
sharks!with!coordinated!management!of!shark!fisheries!in!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US.!
7. Additional!Collaborations!in!Shark!Research:!Continue!and!further!develop!existing!(e.g.,!CIM8
INAPESCA8Mote)!collaboration!in!shark!ecology!and!conservation!research!with!consideration!
of!the!following:!
Page 10
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
a. MEXUS2:!Consider!MEXUS!(US8Mexico)!approach!to!cooperative!research,!both!as!a!
model!for!collaboration!and!a!resource!itself!for!trinational!engagement.!
b. Broaden!Studies!to!Other!Pelagic!Species:!Using!sharks!as!a!starting!point,!broaden!
studies!to!other!highly!migratory!pelagic!species!(billfish,!tuna,!etc.),!including!tagging!
studies,!towards!the!ability!to!address!broader!questions!including!distribution!patterns!
resulting!from!temperature!changes,!regional!interconnectivity,!fishing!impacts,!etc.!!!
c. Institutional! Exchanges:! Explore! opportunities! for! Cuba8Mexico8US! institutional!
exchanges,! including! bringing! Cuban! and! Mexican! scientists! and/or! students! to! Mote!
Marine!Laboratory,!US!students!to!CIM!and!Jardines!de!la!Reina,!etc.!!
d. Integrated! Ocean! Observing! System:! ! Develop! the! infrastructure! for! doing! long8term!
tracking! studies! on! shark! migration! integrated! with! oceanographic! measurements,! for!
predictive!analysis!of!shark!population!biology.!
Action!Areas!
Action'Area'1:'''Research'cruises'for'coastal'and'pelagic'shark'sampling'and'tagging'
NearXTerm!Activities!
!
!
• Juvenile!shark!tagging!program!to!study!nursery!areas!and!migration!in!Mexican!coastal!waters!
(established!by!2012;!estimated!costs!$20,000)!
• Whale!shark!research!cruises!on!Cuba’s!north!coast!(2011;!$75,000)!
• Whale!shark!and!other!species!research!trips!in!Jardines!de!la!Reina!on!south!coast!(2011;!
$75,000)!
• Satellite!tagging!of!whale!sharks!off!Yucatan!peninsula!(2011;!$75,000)!
• Oil!spill!research!cruises!over!next!two!years!to!include!Cuban!and!Mexican!scientists!(2011;!
$10,000)!
LongXTerm!Activities!
!
• Trinational!research!cruise!Cuba8Mexico!waters!with!Cuba8Mex8US!crew!to!study!shark!
abundance,!migration!and!connectivity!(2013)!
Action'Area'2:''Shore:based'sampling'of'commercial'and'recreational'landings'(directed'and'bycatch)'
of'sharks'in'Cuba'and'Mexico'
!
2
There is no formal instrument establishing MEXUS, the United States-Mexico Fisheries Cooperation Program.
The US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
and the predecessor agency to the Mexican Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales, y Pesca
(SEMARNAP) informally agreed in 1983 to meet annually to review the broad range of issues involved in the
bilateral fisheries relationship. There are three memoranda of understanding (MOU) since agreed to by NMFS
and SEMARNAP (now SEMARNAT, Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) to formalize different
aspects of the fisheries relationship: (1) MEXUS-Gulf research program, (2) MEXUS-Pacífico research program,
and (3) information exchange.
Page 11
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
NearXTerm!Activities!
!
• Shark!fisheries!assessment!and!species!identification!workshop,!Campeche,!Mexico!(March!
2011;!$20,000)!
• Landings!monitoring!program!in!3!Mexican!Gulf!states!(2011;!$80,000)!and!quantifying!sharks!
in!shrimp!trawl!bycatch!(2011;!$20,000)!
• Pilot!project!to!quantify!fisheries!landings!of!sharks!by!species!on!Cuba’s!northwest!coast!(2010;!
$40,000)!
LongXTerm!Activities!
!
• Landings!data!collection!program!along!all!of!Cuba’s!north!coast!(2013);!expand!to!south!coast!
of!Cuba!(2014)!
• Expand!landings!program!to!all!of!Mexico’s!Gulf!of!Mexico!coast!(2015)!
Action'Area'3:''Fostering'of'coordinated'trinational'management'of'shark'fishery'resources'in'the'
Gulf'of'Mexico'''
NearXTerm!Activities!
!
• Meeting!with!Mexico’s!CONAPESCA!to!develop!approaches!for!coordinated!management!of!
shark!fisheries!(2011;!$5,000)!
• Shark!fisheries!management!workshops!in!Cuba,!Mexico!and!US!(2011;!$30,000)!!
• Production!of!white!paper!on!shark!fisheries!and!management!in!Gulf!of!Mexico!(2011;!
$50,000)!
LongXTerm!Activities!
!
• Explore!existing!bilateral!agreements!to!establish!coordinated!management!system!in!Gulf!of!
Mexico!(2013)!
• Foster!joint!(Cuba8Mexico8US)!stock!assessments!of!sharks!in!the!Gulf!(2012)!
Action'Area'4:''Determination'of'critical'coastal'habitats'for'sharks,'especially'mapping'and'
biological'studies'of'shark'nursery'areas'
NearXTerm!Activities!
!
• Explore!Cuba’s!northwest!coast!inshore!for!nursery!areas!for!shark!species!and!implement!small!
shark!tagging!program!(2011;!$40,000)!
• Explore!Cuba’s!south!coast!(Cienaga!de!Zapata,!Jardines!de!la!Reina,!Cayos!de!Ana!Maria)!for!
presence!of!juvenile!sharks;!implement!tagging!program!(2012;!$60,000)!
• Include!Mexican!and!Cuban!scientists!and!students!in!ongoing!studies!of!Florida!nursery!areas!
in!US!(2011;!$20,000)!
• Integrate!information!from!nursery!area!studies!to!Marine!Protected!Areas!working!group!in!
Cuba!and!Mexico!–!annual!workshops!(2011;!$20,000)!
Page 12
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
•
Work!to!help!implement!broader!protection!for!juvenile!sharks!in!US!federal!and!state!waters!
through!EFH!framework!(2012;!$30,000)!
LongXTerm!Activities!
!
• Define!shark!nursery!areas!in!Cuban!and!Mexican!coastal!waters!and!implement!protection!for!
juvenile!sharks!(2014)!
Action'Area'5:''Research'on'feasibility'and'issues'related'to'shark'feeding/diving'operations'in'
Mexican'Caribbean'and'in'Cuba'
NearXTerm!Activities!
!
• Investigate!the!shark!feeding!operations!along!Riviera!Maya!(Mexico)!and!in!Jardines!de!la!
Reina!(Cuba);!tag!sharks!for!site!fidelity!and!migratory!studies!(2011;!$60,000)!
LongXTerm!Activities!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
•
Advise!dive!industry!in!Mexico!and!Cuba;!advise!government!agencies!on!need!for!regulations!
!
!
!
Page 13
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Sea!Turtle!Research!and!Conservation!!
!
All!seven!species!of!sea!turtles!worldwide!are!considered!endangered,!due!to!a!combination!of!
overfishing!and!habitat!destruction.!Nesting!beach!monitoring,!tagging!and!genetic!studies!are!
beginning!to!provide!a!better!understanding!of!the!connectivity!of!sea!turtle!populations!within!the!
Trinational!context,!with!important!conservation!implications.!In!addition,!researchers!are!engaging!
local!communities!to!reduce!poaching!and!bycatch!and!increase!awareness.!Predominant!species!
sharing!the!region!are!(in!no!particular!order)!green!(Chelonia!mydas),!loggerhead!(Caretta!caretta)!
and!hawksbill!turtles!(Eretmochelys!imbricata)!and,!to!a!lesser!extent,!(Dermochelys!coriacea)!
leatherback!turtles!and!Kemp’s!ridleys!(Lepidochelys!olivacea).!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!
General!Objective:!
To!provide!a!collaborative!framework!for!research!and!conservation!of!shared!sea!turtle!populations!in!
the!US,!Cuba!and!Mexico.!
!
Specific!Objectives:!!
1. Expand!Biological!Studies:!Expand!studies!on!the!biology!of!the!sea!turtle!species!present!in!
and!around!Cuba,!Yucatan!Peninsula!and!Florida.!Green,!loggerhead!and!hawksbill!spend!
different!stages!of!their!lives!(foraging,!mating,!nesting)!in!the!three!areas.!!
2. Contribute!at!a!regional!level!by!supporting!the!National!Management!Plans!of!each!country:!
Strengthen!the!National!Management!Plans!for!sea!turtles!in!the!three!countries.!
3. Implement!Regional!Monitoring!Protocol:!Implement!a!Regional!Monitoring!Protocol!for!
nesting!areas!and!the!Regional!Strategy!for!Conservation!and!Management!of!Marine!Turtles.!
Establish!standardized!index!nesting!beaches!for!each!species!in!the!three!countries.!See!
Protocolo!Regional!Taller/Miami!2002!Document.!
4. Regional/International!Data!Analysis:!Assess!monitoring!data!needs,!additional!monitoring!
sites!necessary,!etc.,!toward!establishing!a!stronger!regional/international!sea!turtle!database!
to!provide!a!better!regional!perspective!of!sea!turtle!habitat,!comparison!of!monitoring!data,!
and!better!insights!of!sea!turtle!life!history.!
5. Expand!TriXNational!Efforts:!Build!upon!growing!tri8national!sea!turtle!research!and!
conservation!efforts!(Cuba8Mexico8USA)!toward!stronger!collaborative!research!and!
engagement!of!local!communities,!including!fishermen!and!ecotourism!professionals.!
The!rationale!for!the!proposed!action!items!includes!the!following:!
• Prioritizes!lines!of!research!that!have!demonstrated!and!continue!to!indicate!clear!and!
immediate!benefits!to!conservation!
• Builds!upon!many!technical!and!academic!capacities!that!are!already!in!place!
• Significant!benefit!will!be!realized!from!effective!expertise!and!information!exchange,!peer8to8
peer!collaboration!
• Builds!capacity!to!synergize!efforts!and!results!among!the!three!countries!
• Addresses!issues!and!threats!that!are!clearly!shared!among!the!three!countries!
Page 14
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Consensus!
• To!concentrate!on!three!species!of!major!concern:!green,!loggerhead!and!hawksbill.!Even!when!
the!leatherback!and!Kemp’s!ridley!turtles!are!either!abundant!or!of!specific!concern!in!the!
region,!these!species!are!not!considered!to!have!shared!populations!among!the!three!countries!
as!of!current!knowledge.!However,!in!most!cases!conservation!actions!for!the!three!focus!
species!listed!above!will!benefit!also!these!last!two!in!an!indirect!way.!
•
Research!emphasis!on!three!regions:!Western!and!Southern!Cuba,!Yucatan!Peninsula!and!both!
coasts!of!Florida!as!critical!nesting,!developmental!and!foraging!and!reproductive!habitats.!
•
Cover!common!research!needs!and!propose!a!mechanism!for!data!to!be!properly!shared!and!
standardized!
•
Investigate!trends!of!concern!and!establish!theories!and!work!tri8nationally!to!test!them.!For!
example,!currently,!the!Florida!loggerhead!population!is!disappearing.!A!40%!decline!has!been!
detected!from!nesting!beaches!in!last!10!years.!Western!Atlantic!loggerheads!are!one!of!the!
most!important!in!the!world.!Is!this!trend!reflected!over!the!same!period!of!time!with!Cuban!
and!Mexican!loggerhead!populations?!!
Current!and!immediate!research!and!conservation!priorities:!
• Continued!and!uninterrupted!monitoring!of!nesting!beaches!at!already!identified!index!beaches!
• Continue!studies!with!genetics!and!telemetry!that!have!been!initiated!by!researchers!to!
determine!genetic!variability!over!time!and!migration!patterns!between!populations.!!
• Continue!recently!initiated!studies!on!bycatch!of!turtles!in!commercial!fisheries.!!
• Work!with!human!communities!on!environmental!education,!communication,!and!enhance!
participation!by!local!communities!in!work!being!done!by!biologists!
• Enhance!technical!capacity!for!students!in!the!region!including!workshops,!travel!abroad!for!
conferences/research,!technical!training.!!
!
Future!research!priorities!include:!
!
• Environmental!quality!studies!in!feeding!areas!and!the!study!of!sea!turtle!species!composition!
in!these!areas!
• Impacts!of!climate!change!on!nesting!areas!and!its!effect!on!nesting!behavior.!!
• Evaluate!the!impact!of!fisheries!on!Cuban!sea!turtle!populations!through!nest!monitoring!and!
feeding!studies.!
• The!impact!of!sea!turtles!on!human!communities!is!very!important!and!should!be!considered!a!
high!priority.!This!is!particularly!important!given!the!moratorium!announced!by!the!Cuban!
government!in!2008!on!two!previously!government!sanctioned!hawksbill!fisheries!at!Isle!of!
Youth!and!Nuevitas.!It!is!important!to!determine!how!the!moratorium!is!impacting!the!human!
and!turtle!community!dynamics!in!places!where!turtles!were!once!fished.!!
This!consensus!reflects!priorities!which!are!tri8national!in!scope!and!should!be!considered!relevant!for!
all!three!countries.!!
Page 15
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Near!Term!and!Long!Term!Actions!
Action'1:'''Sea'turtle'nest'monitoring'
Index!beaches!should!be!standardized!in!all!three!countries!to!allow!for!comparative!analysis.!The!
group!recommends!that!60%!of!nesting!beaches!at!the!three!countries!have!stable!and!standardized!
monitoring!programs!by!2011,!in!order!to!identify!new!index!beaches.!These!should!be!added!only!if!
they!fill!in!data!gaps!or!allow!for!a!better!understanding!of!a!particular!species.!!
In!order!to!establish!standard!monitoring!methods,!workshops!should!be!planned!with!field!
technicians!from!the!three!countries.!
Action'2:'Migratory'patterns,'habitat'use'and'reproductive'biology:'Sea'turtle'tagging'and'satellite'
tracking''
Satellite!tracking!is!important!to!understanding!corridors!of!movement!and!life!histories.!In!particular,!
they!fill!a!knowledge!gap!between!nesting!and!foraging!grounds.!It!also!helps!researchers!identify!
migratory!routes!and!resting!sites!and!locate!final!foraging!sites.!How!are!these!migrations!affected!by!
anthropogenic!effects?!!
Successful!tagging!efforts!should!be!continued!and!expanded!in!all!three!countries.!This!is!a!long8term!
priority!that!should!be!addressed!immediately.!Resources!should!be!directed!that!allow!existing!
tagging!projects!to!continue!without!interruption.!!!
• Research!project!aimed!to!identify!demographic!information!on!populations!
• Define!objectives!of!a!shared!tagging!program!
• Satellite!tracking!collaboration!between!the!three!countries!
• Possible!link!to!coral!reefs!and!natural!protected!areas!groups!
Action'3:'''Sea'turtle'genetics'
We!are!close!to!a!getting!a!good!panorama!of!the!genetic!picture!of!the!three!species!in!the!region.!
The!group!recommends!in!general!the!continuation!of!the!current!genetics!projects!in!the!three!
countries,!but!no!immediate!joint!actions!are!required!until!further!review!of!the!Plan.!
Action'5:''Bycatch'and'Illegal'Take'
Characterize!fisheries!that!interact!or!potentially!interact!with!sea!turtles!(including!gear!types,!
geographic!locations,!fishing!effort,!etc.);!identify!and!quantify!interactions!with!fisheries!and!other!
point!hazards!!
!
• Use!rapid!assessment!methods!
• Use!shipboard!observer!programs;!establish!protocols!to!standardize!methodology;!evaluate!
mortality!and!stocks!affected!
• Data!on!turtle!consumption,!not!turtle!take.!!!
• Possible!link!to!fisheries!management!group!
Action'6:''Fibropapilloma'pathology'(Monitoring'health'status)'
One!recommendation!is!the!identification!of!the!severity!of!diseases!for!all!three!species!in!the!region!
(long!term).!This!can!be!done!through!existing!protocols!with!the!emphasis!being!on!the!standardized!
reporting!of!fibropapilloma!frequency.!This!is!a!long8term!priority.!
• Include!report!of!fibropapillomas!in!the!routine!nesting!female!observations!at!index!beaches.!
• Training!of!field!technicians!in!recognition!and!sampling!of!fibropapillomas!in!the!field.!
Page 16
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Action'7:''Identify'and'characterize'foraging'sites'
Very!little!is!known!about!sea!turtle!foraging!sites!in!general.!This!holds!true!for!the!tri8national!region.!
In!water!research!and!fisher!surveys!should!be!conducted!to!determine!foraging!composition!in!
foraging!grounds!in!all!three!countries.!This!should!be!considered!a!long8term!priority.!!
Foraging!site!surveys!help!assess!the!following:!
• Identify!key!index!sites!(by!satellite!telemetry,!previous!work)!
• Assess!stock!composition!
• Pathological!analysis!
• Characterize!food!quality!and!quantity!(tropho8ecological!analysis)!
• Assess!survivorship!
• Assess!breeding!proportions!
• Assess!sex!ratios!
• Assess!residence!time/stages!
• Assess!effects!of!climate!and!anthropogenic!impacts!on!food!quality!and!quantity,!and!how!
these!affect!reproductive!parameters;!assess!impact!of!global!climate!change!on!prey!species!
composition!
• Possible!link!to!coral!reefs!and!natural!protected!areas!groups!
!
Capacity!building!–!help!from!other!Trinational!groups?!
Action'8:'Integrate'fishermen'into'monitoring/conservation'
The!three!countries!have!a!long!coastline!with!many!fishing!grounds,!so!it’s!appropriate!that!much!of!
the!monitoring!work!on!sea!turtle!bycatch!and!foraging!location!is!conducted!by!fishers!themselves.!
The!same!should!be!the!case!to!help!communities!adopt!a!conservation!ethic.!!This!is!a!long8term!
priority!that!can!be!implemented!immediately.!Educating!communities!requires!considerable!
commitment!of!personnel!and!the!acquisition!of!intelligible!educational!materials.!''
!
• Continue!participation!of!fishermen!into!the!project;!continue!and!strengthen!fisherman8to8
fisherman!programs!(e.g.,!successful!experience!by!Grupo!Tortuguero!in!Baja!California)!!
• Cuba!interested!in!understanding!impact!of!closure!of!sea!turtle!fishery!on!conservation!status!
of!the!species!(identify!criteria,!methodologies)!and!on!the!fishermen!
• Initiate!an!observer!program!in!Cuban!fisheries!to!identify!the!severity!of!bycatch.!!
Additional!Actions!
1.!Climate!Change:'
!
• What!is!the!scale!of!loss!of!nesting!beach,!what!is!the!replacement?!Warm!water!is!causing!an!
earlier!initiation!of!nesting!season.!!
• In!Cuba,!sea!level!rise!is!a!very!direct!threat.!!
• Beach!morphology!change!is!also!a!big!issue!in!Cuba!and!in!Mexico.!
• Nest!production!vs!hatchling!production!(indicator!of!environmental!influence).!!
• Cuban!priority:!change!in!shoreline.!!
• Shading!of!nests?!Thermo8monitoring!(short!term)!
• Short8term!Climate!Change!
Page 17
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Assess!relationship!of!nesting!trends!with!environmental/oceanographic!parameters!
Assess!impacts!of!climate!change!on!sea!turtle!breeding!success!
!
2.!Establish!standards!for!information!exchange!
3.!Assess!sea!turtle!reproduction!and!development!
4.!Build!public!awareness!and!education!programs!
5.!Assess!the!ecological!roles!of!sea!turtle!species!within!the!marine!environment!
6.!Manage!and!mitigate!tourist!activities!associated!with!sea!turtles!(nesting!and!foraging)!
•
•
Recommendations!
1. Tri8National!Turtle!Group!should!not!compete!with!WIDECAST!but!become!complementary!to!its!
goals.!!
2. Near!term!completion!for!research!on!rookeries,!in!water!studies!now!needed!(in!all!three!
countries!8!long!term).!
3. Adequate!training!for!the!complete!suite!of!basic!methodologies!for!participants!from!all!three!
countries.!Including!training!workshops!in!tagging!(Michael!Coyne)!and!Mote!biomarker!technique!
(Thane!Wibbels)!
4. Completion!of!the!genetic!structure!and!migratory!behavior!for!the!three!species!
5. 10!satellite!tags!in!Mexico!and!Cuba!(green!and!loggerhead)!by!2010!
6. Use!PIT!tags!($8)!for!10!years!starting!in!2010!to!saturate!populations!
7. Establish!thermal!monitoring!at!182!nesting!rookeries!for:!
!
• Mexico:!green,!loggerhead,!hawksbill!
• Cuba:!green!loggerhead,!hawksbill!
• US:!already!being!done,!continue!to!compare!to!sex!ratios!
!
8. In8water!work.!Establish!10!years!of!in!water!studies!for!juvenile!green,!loggerheads!and!hawkbills!
in!all!three!countries!at!182!sites!per!country.!These!sites!remain!to!be!defined.!!
9. Ensure!all!future!primary!data!is!stored!in!one!database!(University!of!Florida?)!
10. Take!steps!to!have!previous!tagging!records!shared!in!a!standardized!format.!!
11. Build!capacity!for!and!promote!student!and!researcher!exchanges!
12.!Establish!regular!working!meetings!(e.g.,!annual!steering!committee!meetings!to!review!
achievements!and!draft/agree!yearly!work!plan!
13.!Hold!workshops!as!needed!to!address!technical!requirements!of!the!project!
ANNEXES!
PARTNERS!TO!ENGAGE:!
Cuban!agencies!that!engage!in!sea!turtle!research:!CITMA,!CIP,!CIM!and!Flora!y!Fauna!
Mexican!partners:!CONANP’s!regional!offices!(Gulf!of!Mexico!and!Yucatan!Peninsula),!Pronatura!
Peninsula!de!Yucatan,!Flora,!Fauna!y!Cultura!de!México!A.C.,!Yucatán!Peninsula’s!Sea!Turtle!
Committee.!
!
!
!
!
Page 18
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Marine!Mammal!Research!and!Conservation!
!
Like!sharks!and!sea!turtles,!the!relationship!of!Cuba’s!marine!mammal!populations!with!others!around!the!Gulf!
and!Caribbean!are!poorly!understood.!Some!research!on!bottlenose!dolphins!has!been!conducted!by!Cuba’s!
National!Aquarium,!and!research!on!manatees!has!been!conducted!by!other!Cuban!groups,!but!greater!
integration!with!U.S.!and!Mexican!research!will!help!provide!a!better!regional!picture,!especially!for!species!that!
cross!national!boundaries.!!Needed!research!ranges!from!basic!descriptions!and!assessments!of!populations,!to!
the!identification!of!specific!threats!and!mitigation!measures,!as!possible.!Marine!mammals!are!protected!in!the!
three!range!countries.!Anthropogenic!threats!from!destruction!of!habitat,!reduction!of!food!species,!
environmental!contaminants,!vessel!traffic,!recreational!and!commercial!fishing,!provisioning!and!direct!hunting!
remain.!While!some!anthropogenic!threats!to!marine!mammals!may!be!localized!and!relatively!straight8forward!
to!identify,!other!threats,!such!as!climate!change!or!oil!spills,!may!have!as!yet!undetermined!impacts!over!broad!
geographical!scales.!!!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!
!
1. PhotoXIdentification!Studies:!Conduct!photo8identification!studies!in!dolphin!populations.!
2. Molecular!Markers:!Conduct!population!and!social!structure!analysis!using!new!molecular!markers!and!
genetics.!!
3. Aerial!Surveys/Radio!Tracking:!Monitor!abundance!and!distribution!marine!mammal!populations!using!
radio!tracking!and!aerial!surveys.!!
4. Health!and!Hematological!Assessment:!Assess!health!and!hematological!parameters!to!construct!a!
regional!population!evaluation!of!marine!mammal!populations.!!
5. Environmental!Quality!Assessment:!Conduct!environmental!quality!assessment!in!areas!where!marine!
mammal!populations!are!present!in!order!to!identify!potential!areas!of!risk!and!impact,!including!
potential!impacts!of!climate!change.!
6. Acoustic!Studies:!Conduct!research!to!better!understand!marine!mammal!acoustic!environment!and!
potential!human!impacts.!
7. Utilize!Ships!of!Opportunity:!Identify!potential!“ships!of!opportunity”!where!marine!mammal!surveys!
can!be!conducted!in!order!to!maximize!at8sea!observations!and!use!of!existing!resources.!!!
8. Characterize!All!Marine!Mammal!Species:!Characterization!of!all!marine!mammal!species!in!the!Gulf!of!
Mexico!and!off!Cuba’s!and!Mexico’s!Caribbean!coasts.!
9. GulfXWide!Assessment:!Gulf8wide!stock!assessment!including!stock!identification,!abundance!
estimation,!threat!assessment.!
10. Contaminant!concentrations:!Assess!contaminant!concentrations!and!their!effects!on!marine!mammal!
health!and!reproduction.!
11. Life!History!Parameters:!Determine!life!history!parameters!for!bottlenose!dolphin!and!manatee!
populations!of!interest.!
Principal!Objectives!
!
1. Assess!the!population!structure!and!abundance!of!bottlenose!dolphins!in!marine!areas!of!common!
interest.!
Page 19
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
2. Identify!possible!exchange!mechanisms!(and/or!connectivity)!between!marine!mammal!populations.!
3. Determine!possible!relations!between!marine!mammal!populations!and!climate!change!and/or!other!
environmental!impacts.!
4. Describe!health!and!hematological!patterns!in!bottlenose!dolphin!populations!and!frequency!of!most!
common!pathogens!in!wild!populations.!
5. Characterize!acoustic!social!emissions!of!echolocation!and!vocalizations!among!individuals!by!the!most!
proper!and!available!technique,!and!to!apply!the!results!to!determine!population!abundance.!
6. Describe!and!implement!a!common!methodology!for!marine!mammal!observations!from!“ships!of!
opportunity”.!
7. Establish!or!enhance!stranding!response!network.!!Since!this!objective!was!first!identified,!there!has!
been!stranding!response!capacity!development!in!all!of!Cuba,!and!from!UNACAR!efforts!in!Mexico!in!the!
vicinity!of!Campeche.!
8. Modeling!of!populations.!!
9. New'Objective,'September'2010:!!Increase!marine!mammal!conservation!research!capacity!by!providing!
generalized!training!for!application!to!multiple!marine!mammal!species,!including!both!bottlenose!
dolphins!and!manatees,!attempting!to!cross8train!researchers!in!each!area.!
The!activities!described!below!are!planned!for!the!first!five!years!and!build!upon!the!Research!and!Conservation!
Priorities!(above)!identified!at!the!Cancun!meeting!and!further!developed!in!Veracruz,!and!the!principal!
objectives!described!above.!!There!are!common!needs!around!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!to!understand!the!biology!and!
status!of!marine!mammal!populations.!!Because!there!are!projects!already!underway!in!all!three!countries!on!
bottlenose!dolphins,!the!large!amount!of!existing!data!and!research!capabilities!for!studying!this!species,!and!
their!socioeconomic!impacts,!it!makes!sense!to!focus!initial!activities!on!bottlenose!dolphins,!per!
recommendations!from!Cancun.!!As!top!predators!in!the!coastal!environment,!bottlenose!dolphins!can!serve!as!
sentinels!of!ecosystem!health.!In!addition,!because!of!their!coastal!habitats,!bottlenose!dolphins!are!subject!to!
impacts!from!human!activities,!some!of!which!might!be!exacerbated!by!climate!change.!!In!all!cases,!long8term!
study!can!help!to!identify!specific!factors!and!interactions!that!impact!dolphin!populations.!An!important!aspect!
of!this!collaboration!is!to!support!the!continuation!of!established!research!programs!and!to!develop!capacity!to!
expand!efforts!around!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!northern!Caribbean!Sea.!
!
In!a!broader!context,!it!is!important!to!learn!more!about!all!of!the!marine!mammals!of!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!
examine!conservation!threats!and!practices.!Large!scale!surveys!of!the!greater!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!Caribbean!Sea!
are!beyond!the!scope!of!this!collaboration!but!should!be!possible!with!improved!political!relationships.!Such!
surveys!would!greatly!improve!stock!assessments!for!transboundary!stocks.!
!
In!order!to!accomplish!these!activities!in!support!of!the!objectives!and!priorities,!an!important!first!step!will!be!
to!standardize!methodologies!involved!in!current!research!in!order!to!allow!comparison!of!findings!across!
projects!and!field!sites!and!to!develop!the!capacity!for!this!kind!of!research!around!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!
Caribbean!Sea.!!Initial!field!sites!where!work!is!currently!underway!with!bottlenose!dolphins!include:!!!
!
• Hicacos!Peninsula!–!Cardenas!Bay!and/or!north8central!coast!of!Cuba!(Caibalien)!–!surveys!and!capture8
release!operations!are!planned!for!this!region!in!201182012.!
• Holbox!Island!(Quintana8Roo)!and/or!Laguna!de!Terminos!(Campeche)!and/or!Alvarado!(Veracruz),!
(Mexico)!–!Laguna!de!Terminos!has!been!subject!to!high!levels!of!dolphin!live!captures,!and!exposure!to!
the!Ixtoc!oil!spill!of!1979.!
• Sarasota!Bay!(Florida,!USA)!–!Established!research!site!with!opportunities!for!participation!in!a!variety!
for!field!techniques.!
Page 20
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
!
At!each!of!these!sites,!it!will!be!critical!to!develop!methodologies!to!clearly!identify!populations!(stocks)!in!order!
to!relate!threats!to!specific!units,!and!to!establish!stock8specific!baselines.!
NearXTerm!Actions!
Action'1:'Hold'a'training'session'at'Mote'Marine'Laboratory'for'standardization'of'field'techniques'
(photo:identification,'health'assessment,'life'history'sampling,'biopsy'sampling'(for'genetics'and'
contaminants),'focal'animal'behavioral'observations,'radio:tagging'and'tracking,'acoustic'studies,'
stranding'response).'[Year'1]'
!
Plans:!
1. May!16820,!2011!–!Bottlenose!dolphin!health!assessment!in!Sarasota!and!field/lab!experience!at!
Mote!Marine!Laboratory.!
a. Cubans!(1!vet,!1!biologist!(Lopez?),!1!trainer)!
b. Mexicans!(1!vet,!1!trainer,!2!biologists!(Delgado)!
c. Two!additional!weeks!for!experience!in!a!variety!of!field!and!lab!techniques!(dolphin!photo8
ID,!biopsy!darting,!focal!animal!behavioral!observations,!radio8tracking,!acoustics,!aerial!
surveys!(S2S),!manatee!photo8ID,!radio8tracking)!!
d. Piggy8back!on!ongoing!research!efforts!as!possible!
e. Travel!funds!needed!(airfares,!transfers)!
f. Housing,!food!provided!by!Chicago!Zoological!Society.!
2. May,!2012!–!Second!bottlenose!dolphin!health!assessment!in!Sarasota!and!field/lab!experience!at!
Mote!Marine!Laboratory,!prior!to!planned!2012!capture8release!project!in!Cuba,!to!increase!number!
of!trained!personnel!available!for!projects.!
Action'2:'Meet'at'each'field'site'to'determine'the'applicability'of'the'techniques'to'the'sites'and'
pertinent'issues.'[Years'1:2]'
!
Plans:!
1. July8August,!2011!–!Boat!survey!through!entire!Sabana8Camaguey!Archipelago!planned!by!National!
Aquarium!of!Cuba,!from!Puerto!de!Isabella!Puerto!Caibarien!(via!Cayo!Gillermo),!to!search!for!areas!
of!dolphin!concentrations!for!planned!dolphin!capture8release!project!in!2012.!!
2. April,!2012!8!Survey!trip!to!Holbox!and!Terminos!Lagoon!in!Mexico!(to!scout!potential!capture8
release!sites.!!!
a. Will!need!to!find!funding!before!capture8release!can!begin.!
b. Delgado!will!contact!Rosalinda!Amezcua!(gef)!about!linking!efforts,!incorporating!available!
environmental!data!and!research.!
3. July,!2012:!Capture8release!in!Cuba.!!!!
Action'3:'Evaluate'potential'for'bottlenose'dolphin'captive'breeding'program'for'conservation'
purposes.'[Year'1]'
!
Plans:!!National!Aquarium!of!Cuba!is!starting!to!breed!dolphins!under!controlled!conditions!using!
artificial!insemination!in!some!cases!to!create!semen!bank!for!sharing!with!other!institutions!in!Cuba!
and!around!the!Caribbean!(cooperative!breeding!arrangement!is!being!developed!with!8!facilities!in!
Cuba,!1!in!Dominican!Republic).!!Dolphins!of!different!sexes!are!being!combined!at!National!Aquarium!
are!being!combined!to!encourage!breeding,!whereas!previously!they!had!been!segregated.!!
Page 21
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Demonstration!Project!
Recognizing!the!urgency!and!importance!of!climate!change!research!and!understanding!responses!to!oil!spills,!
the!planning!team,!as!its!highest!priority,!has!designed!a!project!that!would!establish!baselines!for!assessing!the!
potential!impacts!of!climate!change!and!oil!spills!on!a!marine!mammal!species!that!has!been!identified!as!a!
sentinel!of!coastal!ecosystem!health,!the!bottlenose!dolphin.!!Findings!from!long8term!research!in!Sarasota!Bay,!
Florida,!suggest!that!the!multi8generational!resident!dolphins!may!be!near!an!ecological!or!health!tipping!point!
relative!to!water!temperature.!!Research!is!needed!at!other!sites!around!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!to!determine!the!
range!of,!and!capacity!for,!possible!climate!change!responses!for!this!species!in!this!region.!!In!addition,!
bottlenose!dolphins!in!all!three!countries!were!potentially!at8risk!from!the!2010!BP!Deepwater!Horizon!oil!spill,!
and!from!planned!oil!development!activities.!!The!planning!team!recommends!conducting!bottlenose!dolphin!
health!assessment!research!in!each!country,!at!sites!where!the!capacity!for!dolphin!capture8release!efforts!
already!exists.!
!
This!project!would!first!involve!bringing!teams!of!384!biologists!and!veterinarians!from!Cuba!and!Mexico!to!
Sarasota!Bay!during!May!2011!to!participate!in!planned!dolphin!health!assessments!and!other!field!research!
activities.!!Participation!in!the!activities!of!the!Sarasota!Dolphin!Research!Program,!now!in!its!40th!year,!would!
provide!capacity!building!for!initiation!of!similar!efforts!planned!for!Cuba!in!summer!2012,!and!in!Mexico!as!
funds!become!available.!!The!efforts!in!Cuba!and!Mexico!would!produce!initial!measures!of!health,!body!
condition,!life!history,!and!environmental!contaminant!loads.!!They!would!also!support!much8needed!population!
studies!by!providing!opportunities!to:!1)!obtain!genetic!samples!required!for!stock!identification,!2)!mark!
individuals!for!long8term!re8identification!for!studies!of!movement!patterns,!survival!and!reproductive!success,!
and!3)!attach!satellite8linked!transmitters!to!define!ranging!patterns!and!stock!discreteness.!!Planned!surveys!in!
summer!2011!in!Cuba!will!help!to!identify!specific!research!sites!for!capture8release!planned!for!2012.!!Planned!
surveys!for!spring!2012!in!Mexico!will!help!to!identify!specific!sites!for!capture8!release!as!funds!are!obtained.!!
The!team!will!convene!at!the!2011!Biennial!Conference!on!the!Biology!of!Marine!Mammals!in!Tampa,!Florida,!to!
discuss!progress!and!plan!next!steps.!
!
The!only!funds!that!are!lacking!for!initial!implementation!of!plans!are!for!travel,!as!partial!funding!is!already!
available!for!field!research!at!the!Florida!and!Cuba!sites.!!This!demonstration!project!would!establish!or!continue!
long8term!research!situations!and!develop!capacity!that!would!produce!dividends!for!climate!change!and!other!
research!in!the!region!for!many!years!to!come.!
!
PROJECT!
ITEM!
Sarasota!Bay!Field!Research!#1:!May!2011!
Field!expenses!(MML/CZS/S2S)!
!
Travel:!Cubans!
!
Travel:!Mexicans!
!
Cuba!Survey:!July!2011!
!
!
!
Mexico!Survey:!April!2012!
SECURED!
Subtotal!
Field!expenses!(NAC)!
Travel:!Delgado!
Travel:!Wells!
Subtotal!
Field!expenses!!
!
Travel:!Lopez!(food,!lodging,!airfare)!
!
!
Travel:!Wells!(food,!lodging,!airfare)!
Sarasota!Bay!Field!Research!#2:!May!2012!
!
Field!expenses!(MML/CZS/S2S)!
Travel:!Cubans!
Subtotal!
NEEDED!
100,000!
0!
0!
3,000!
0!
4,000!
100,000!
5,000!
0!
0!
5,000!
0!
7,000!
0!
2,000!
2,000!
4,000!
2,000!
0!
2,000!
0!
0!
2,000!
6,000!
100,000!
0!
0!
3,000!
Page 22
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
!
!
Travel:!Mexicans!
Subtotal!
Cuba!CaptureXRelease:!July!2012!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Grand!Totals:!
Capture!costs,!boat!rentals,!technical!staff,!
crew,!gear,!food,!supplies!!!
Biological!sampling!and!analyses!
Incidental!costs!
Workshops,!symposia!and!dissemination!of!
results!
Equipment!(hydrophones,!instrumentation,!
telemetry)!!
Travel:!Mexico!team!
Travel:!USA!team!
Subtotal!
!
0!
100,000!
4,000!
7,000!
10,000!
0!
20,000!
5,000!
0!
0!
5,000!
0!
80,000!
0!
0!
120,000!
325,000!
0!
5,000!
5,000!
10,000!
34,000!
LongXTerm!(2013X2017)!
Action'1:'Expand'research'as'appropriate.''
Action'2:'Convene'annual'workshops'to'compare'data,'refine'goals,'develop'reports'and'proposals,'
adjust/adapt'approach'as'necessary.''
Action'3:'Continue'training'sessions'annually'to'build'capacity'for'each'country.''
Outcomes/Products!
!
1. Establish!a!basic!network!of!comparable!ongoing!bottlenose!dolphin!research!sites!around!the!
Gulf!of!Mexico,!developing!and!maintaining!long8term!research!for!identifying!impacts!from!
human!activities,!including!oil!spills,!and!climate!change.!Baselines!will!be!established.!
Standardized!methodologies!will!facilitate!identification!of!geographical!differences.!
2. Increased!capacity!in!terms!of!trained!scientific!personnel!in!order!to!expand!the!network!of!
research!sites!engaged!in!comparable!activities.!
3. Increased!stranding!response!capacity!to!better!evaluate!impacts!on!coastal!dolphin!
populations!and!obtain!basic!biological!information.!
4. Generation!of!peer8reviewed!scientific!publications!identifying!the!commonalities!and!
differences!across!the!sites.!This!will!lead!to!development!of!refined!hypotheses!for!further!
testing,!and!disentanglement!of!climate!change!and!other!driving!factors.!
5. Disseminate!initial!findings!to!the!general!public!to!increase!awareness!of!the!issues!that!face!
marine!mammals!in!this!region.!!
6. Established!coastal!bottlenose!dolphins!as!clear!sentinel!species!for!ecosystem!health!for!the!
Gulf!of!Mexico.!
7. Development!of!a!systematic!approach!to!identifying!population!structure!for!marine!mammals!
around!the!Gulf!of!Mexico,!including!region8wide!coordinated!photographic!identification!
catalogs!and!analysis!of!genetic!samples.!
Page 23
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
8. Completed!assessment!of!the!potential!for!developing!a!coordinated,!cooperative!bottlenose!
dolphin!breeding!program.!
Funding!
!
Initial!financial!and!in8kind!support!could!be!provided!from!some!of!the!participating!institutions!
(National!Aquarium!of!Cuba,!Mote!Marine!Laboratory,!Chicago!Zoological!Society,!Sea!to!Shore!
Alliance)!as!well!as!national!and!international!funding!mechanisms.!!Some!of!the!planned!work!would!
involve!simply!integrating!established!programs,!while!others!will!require!significant!new!support.!
CrossXcutting!Issues!
!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
!
Significant!funding!will!be!required.!
o Seeking!funds!from!a!variety!of!sources.!
Can!not!transfer!funds!from!U.S.!to!Cuba.!
o Ongoing!problem!that!needs!to!be!resolved.!
Visas!for!Cuban!scientists!to!work!in!U.S.!
o Situation!appears!to!be!improving.!
Special!permits!required!for!marine!mammal!research!in!all!three!countries.!
o Ongoing!challenge,!but!not!an!obstacle.!
Procedural!complexities!(including!permits)!for!vessel!access!to!research!sites.!
o Vessel!access!improved!in!recent!years!in!Cuba!and!Mexico.!
Restrictions!on!technology!transfer!between!countries!(e.g.,!telemetry!equipment,!communications!
equipment,!computers,!software,!internet!communications).!
o Precedent!now!exists!for!getting!tags!into!Cuba!through!NGO.!
Access!to!appropriate!vessels!in!Mexico!and!Cuba.!
o Improved!access!to!vessels!in!Cuba!and!Mexico.!
Transfer!of!biological!Samples!internationally!for!analysis!by!standardized!laboratories!(or!for!inter8
laboratory!comparisons).!
o It!will!likely!be!possible!to!export!samples!from!Cuba!via!CITES!process.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Page 24
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Research,!Conservation!&!Management!of!Fish!Resources!
!
Cuba!has!not!been!immune!from!the!impacts!of!overfishing!seen!elsewhere!in!the!region,!including!
stock!depletion!and!adverse!impacts!on!population!dynamics!in!coral!reef!ecosystems.!Ongoing!
research!is!helping!to!better!characterize!important!nearshore!fish!and!invertebrate!assemblages!and!
better!inform!fisheries!management!policies.!In!addition,!ecotoxicological!research!is!being!conducted!
to!help!assess!the!impact!of!land8based!pollution!on!marine!fish!at!an!individual,!community!and!
ecosystem!level.!Such!information!is!important!in!addressing!land!use!policies!and!practices.!Ongoing!
research!to!investigate!fish!habitat!use!is!helping!to!better!understand!critical!habitat!needs!of!
important!fishes!throughout!the!life!cycle,!including!habitat!connectivity!and!dispersal!patterns,!
providing!critical!information!needed!to!identify!essential!habitats!that!need!protection.!Adoption!of!
sustainable!and!responsible!aquaculture!techniques!and!stocking!protocol!is!needed!to!provide!
juvenile!fishes!and!invertebrates!for!restocking!and!for!conservation!hatcheries,!that!when!integrated!
with!sound!fisheries!management!can!help!replenish!depleted!fishery!stocks!and!help!restore!
endangered!and!keystone!species.!
!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!!!
!
Based!on!research!and!conservation!objectives!identified!for!this!working!group!at!the!international!
workshop!held!in!Cancun,!the!Fish!Resources!Working!Group!prioritized!four!groups!of!Action!Items!in!
Veracruz.!These!were!further!refined!after!meeting!in!Havana!in!October!2009.!To!enhance!
management!and!conservation!of!coastal!fish!and!invertebrate!stocks!in!Caribbean!and!Gulf!of!Mexico!
waters,!these!action!items!require!collaborative!research!projects,!workshops!and!exchange!of!
researchers,!students!and!interns!in!four!priority!areas:!!!
!
1. Spiny!Lobster!and!Reef!Fish!Ecology!and!Fisheries!Management:!Conduct!surveys,!workshops,!
fishermen!exchanges,!scientific!research!and!analysis!to!examine!the!biology!and!current!status!
of!target!species!in!the!Gulf!and!Caribbean!region.!This!work!will!enhance!the!science,!
conservation!and!management!of!spiny!lobster!and!reef!fish!fisheries!and!assess!the!
connectivity!of!spiny!lobster!populations!in!the!region.!Current!populations!of!reef!fishes!and!
Caribbean!spiny!lobster!are!declining!in!the!U.S.,!Mexico!and!Cuba.!Larvae!of!these!species,!
moved!by!ocean!currents,!often!cross!jurisdictional!waters.!FAO!has!done!some!work!in!the!
past!to!integrate!data!from!the!region,!but!there!is!a!need!for!additional!research.!Lobster!
fishermen!from!Florida!and!Mexico!could!enhance!the!sustainability!of!their!fishery!by!learning!
from!Cuba,!which!has!one!of!the!best!managed!lobster!fisheries!in!the!world.!This!will!expand!
best!practices!in!managing!the!capture!of!spiny!lobster!in!the!Gulf!and!Caribbean.!!
!
2. NonXFishing!Impacts!on!Fish!Populations:!Assess!the!status!of!marine!ecosystems!and!develop!
a!scientific!approach!for!determining!the!factors!that!influence!fish!population!and!ecosystem!
resilience!to!climate!change!and!anthropogenic!impacts!(other!than!fishing),!with!special!
attention!to!key!coastal!habitats!including!coral!reefs,!seagrass!meadows,!mangrove!swamps,!
coastal!lagoons!and!estuaries.!!
!
Page 25
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
!
3. Habitat!Protection:!Conduct!research!to!examine!the!biology!and!current!status!of!target!
species,!the!connectivity!of!the!fish!stocks!among!countries,!and!the!impact!of!anthropogenic!
factors!on!marine!resources!and!their!habitats.!This!will!help!fisheries!managers!identify!and!
design!improved!fisheries!management!strategies!that!balance!conservation!with!the!interests!
of!fishermen!and!communities.!The!project!will!identify!essential!fish!habitat!in!Cuba!in!places!
that!are!in!both!poor!environmental!health!and!good!environmental!health,!where!the!target!
species!are!still!abundant!and!coastal!habitats!are!unaltered.!Field!collections!will!be!coupled!
with!tag8release8recapture!studies!to!assess!habitat!use!patterns,!distribution,!abundance,!
dispersal!and!migration!patterns!with!special!attention!to!key!coastal!habitats!including!coral!
reefs,!seagrass!meadows,!mangrove!swamps,!coastal!lagoons!and!estuaries.!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. Restocking!to!Help!Replenish!Depleted!Stocks:!Conduct!workshops!and!pilot!studies!to!
increase!awareness!about!the!environmentally!responsible!protocols!and!management!
strategies!needed!to!guide!use!of!cultured!fishes!in!fisheries!management.!The!science!
underlying!sustainable!fish!stocking!began!to!accumulate!only!within!the!past!two!decades!as!a!
more!responsible!approach!was!applied!in!stocking!practices!and!studies.!Adaptive!
management,!coupled!with!strong!concern!for!genetic!and!health!impacts!of!released!
organisms!and!development!of!optimal!release!strategies,!are!transforming!the!use!of!stock!
enhancement!worldwide,!which!now!affords!an!additional!fishery!restoration!tool!for!the!
fishery8management!toolbox.!!!
NearXTerm!Actions!!
!
Action'1:'Spiny'Lobster'Fisheries'Ecology'and'Management'!
!
Workshop:!Fishery!Management!Assessment:!Organize!and!conduct!a!workshop!on!assessment!of!
current!spiny!lobster!fishery!management!in!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US.!The!workshop!will!be!small,!
involving!about!three!people!from!each!country,!and!will!address!stock!assessment,!regulations,!
decision!making!and!adaptive!management;!recommendations!for!improving!management;!and!
suggestions!for!follow!up!workshops,!such!as!evaluation!methods.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Characterization!of!management!strategies!that!would!strengthen!spiny!lobster!
management!in!the!Caribbean!and!Gulf!of!Mexico;!students!and!stakeholder!groups!become!more!
knowledgeable!about!resource!management!needs;!priority!objectives!established!for!adding!value!to!
resource!management!decisions.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!results.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!$50,000!including!costs!to!publish!&!disseminate!results.!
!
Action'2:'Non:Fishing'Impacts'on'Fish'Populations!
!
Human!Impacts!Symposium:!Develop!a!scientific!approach!for!assessing!the!status!of!marine!
ecosystems!relative!to!thresholds!and!reference!states,!and!for!determining!the!factors!that!influence!
ecosystem!resilience!to!climate!change!and!other!anthropogenic!impacts.!Based!on!documented!
results!in!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US,!plan!and!conduct!a!symposium!with!the!stated!aim!to!assess!the!
current!condition!of!vulnerable!and!threatened!marine!and!coastal!habitats!including!coral!reefs,!
Page 26
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
seagrass!meadows,!mangrove!swamps,!and!coastal!lagoons.!!Identify!the!principal!human!impacts!on!
those!habitats,!including!impacts!from!climate!change,!dams,!pollution!and!eutrophication,!and!
development!projects!(such!as!constructions!of!building,!roads!and!wastewater!systems).!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Social!and!natural!science8based!criteria!established!for!effective!coastal!zone!
management!in!Cuba!in!the!face!of!rapid!development!in!the!future.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!
results.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!$100,000!including!costs!to!publish!&!disseminate!results.!
!
Action'3:'Habitat'Protection:!
!
Identification!and!Assessment!of!Essential!Habitats!of!Key!Fisheries!Resources:!!Conduct!field!studies!
to!define!and!examine!status!and!anthropogenic!impacts!on!essential!habitats!for!ecologically!and!
economically!important!fishes!and!spiny!lobster.!This!will!help!fisheries!managers!identify!and!design!
improved!fisheries!management!strategies!that!balance!conservation!with!the!interests!of!fishermen!
and!communities.!Knowing!the!habitats!needed!by!juvenile!and!adult!stages!is!essential!to!
conservation!and!restoration!of!marine!ecosystems!and!fisheries.!Loss!of!essential!habitat!is!a!major!
factor!in!the!decline!of!fish!populations.!Identifying!the!causes!of!habitat!loss!is!an!important!step!in!
habitat!and!ecosystem!conservation.!Initial!assessment!studies!will!target!important!coastal!habitats!
including!mangroves,!seagrasses!and!coral!reefs!and!will!identify!habitat!use!patterns!at!various!stages!
of!the!life!cycle.!This!research!will!determine!which!habitats!are!required!by!juveniles!of!key!fisheries!
species!and!connectivity!of!juvenile!habitats!with!spawning!habitat,!allowing!conservation!efforts!to!
focus!on!maintaining!the!integrity!of!those!habitats!that!appear!most!essential!for!growth!and!survival.!!
This!effort!must!occur!throughout!the!Caribbean!and!Gulf!of!Mexico,!and!must!include!comparisons!
with!places!that!are!in!good!environmental!health,!too,!where!the!target!species!are!still!abundant!and!
coastal!habitats!are!unaltered.!Field!collections!will!be!coupled!with!tag8release8recapture!studies!to!
examine!habitat!use!patterns,!distribution,!abundance,!dispersal!and!migration!patterns.!Coastal!
species!such!as!lane!snapper,!red!snapper,!mutton!snapper!and!other!reef!fishes,!common!snook!and!
bonefish!will!be!considered.!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Identification!of!essential!fish!habitats!during!the!critical!larval!settlement!and!
juvenile!recruitment!and!growth!phase!of!the!life!cycle!and!the!habitats!occupied!during!the!vulnerable!
stage!of!transition!from!juvenile!to!adult!habitat.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!results.!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$190,000!!
!!
Action'4:'Restocking'to'Replenish'Depleted'Stocks:!
!
Workshop:!Responsible!Marine!Fisheries!Restocking:!Plan!and!conduct!a!tri8national!workshop!to!
present!the!current!state8of8the8art!techniques!for!marine!fish!restocking!(the!release!of!cultured!
juveniles!into!wild!population(s)!to!restore!severely!depleted!spawning!biomass!to!a!level!where!it!can!
once!again!provide!regular,!substantial!yields),!highlighting!snook!and!other!local!species.!The!focus!in!
this!workshop!will!be!on!responsible!practices!needed!for!sustainable!and!conservation8oriented!stock!
enhancement!to!restore!depleted!stocks.!Case!studies!will!be!presented!that!have!incorporated!the!
Page 27
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
science!needed!to!use!cultured!fishes!responsibly!in!fishery!management.!Guidelines!for!conserving!
genetics!and!health!of!wild!stocks,!impact!assessment!and!adaptive!management!will!be!stressed,!
coupled!with!protocols!that!are!needed!to!develop!release!strategies!that!are!effective,!ecologically!
sound!and!economically!efficient.!These!issues!are!transforming!restocking!practices!worldwide,!as!
peer!reviewed!scientific!papers!in!this!field!have!increased!(by!several!orders!of!magnitude!in!the!last!
two!decades).!Much!of!this!new!information!will!be!summarized!and!discussed.!Emphasis!will!also!be!
given!to!modeling!stock!enhancement!of!local!species!in!Cuba!for!comparison!of!enhancement!gains!
with!gains!that!could!be!made!with!other!fishery!management!options!(spatial!management!of!fishing!
activities;!fishing8effort!management).!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Tri8lateral!information!exchange!among!stock!enhancement!experts;!expert!
transfer!of!“a!responsible!approach!to!marine!stock!enhancement”!to!Cuban!and!Mexican!aquaculture!
and!fishery!biologists!and!managers;!increased!awareness!of!environmentally!responsible!and!
conservation8oriented!aquaculture!and!restocking!practices!needed!to!produce!fingerlings!for!stocking!
in!a!sustainable!way!and!manage!stocking!responsibly;!adaptation!and!expansion!of!stock!
enhancement!modeling!to!Caribbean!species!and!Gulf!of!Mexico!species.!Publication!and!
dissemination!of!results;!prioritization!of!collaborative!research!and!information!exchange!projects.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!$60,000,!including!costs!to!publish!and!disseminate!results.!
!
LongXTerm!Actions!!
!
Action'1:'Spiny'Lobster'Fisheries'Ecology'and'Management'!
!
Workshop:!Plan!Improved!Management!Strategies:!Based!on!the!initial!lobster!workshop!held!under!
short8term!actions,!hold!a!second!workshop!to!devise!improvements!in!lobster!management!strategies!
in!Cuba!needed!to!implement!sound!ecosystem8based!stock!assessment!methods.!This!workshop!will!
involve!social!scientists!and!fishery!scientists!and!managers.!This!will!be!a!relatively!small!group,!
focused!on!applying!adaptive!management!principles!(continuous!improvement!of!management!
outcomes!by!incorporating!a!small!research!framework!to!provide!new!information!from!the!results!of!
management!actions).!Consideration!will!also!be!given!to!future!involvement!of!stakeholders!in!
community8based!fishery!management,!and!fishermen!exchange!programs.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Synthesis,!interpretation!and!transfer!of!science!and!technical!information!to!
researchers,!policy!makers!and!fishery!managers!in!the!Caribbean,!particularly!in!Cuba.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$30,000!8!$40,000!!
!!!
Spiny!Lobster!Ecological!Research!to!Resolve!Critical!Information!Gaps:!Field!studies!to!address!
critical!uncertainties!identified!in!the!initial!fishery!assessment!workshop!in!2010.!Examples!include!
expansion!of!habitat!connectivity!studies!(source8sink!dynamics),!research!on!spiny!lobster!habitat!
selection,!reproductive!behavior,!spatial!and!temporal!change!in!seagrass!beds!and!benthic!
communities!and!other!ecological!processes.!
!
Page 28
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Outcomes/Products:!Improved!understanding!of!spiny!lobster!life8history;!identification!of!essential!
lobster!habitat!throughout!the!life!cycle;!improved!management!by!enabling!an!adaptive!process,!
whereby!new!information!is!gained!annually!from!each!management!action,!to!drive!refinements!in!
lobster!management.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!results.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$80,000!8!$90,000!1st!yr,!followed!by!longer!term!studies!($350,000!–!$400,000!total).!
!
Action'2:'Non:Fishing'Impacts'on'Fish'Populations!
!
Joint!Publication!and!Workshops:!Attend!on8the8ground!meetings!on!the!second!phase!of!ICZM!
project!in!Cuba!to!develop!an!understanding!of!the!criteria!used,!implementation!goals!and!objectives,!
and!challenges.!
1. Based!on!goals,!objectives,!and!criteria,!review!data!from!Cuban!and!US!programs!to!evaluate!
results!from!program!implementation.!!Jointly!publish!an!article!in!the!U.S.!on!case!studies!
from,!with!an!emphasis!on!how!lessons!learned!in!Cuba!could!be!applied!to!other!Caribbean!
nations!and!to!coastal!management!in!the!U.S.!
2. Host!one!or!more!workshops!on!ICZM!to!assess!lessons!learned!and!to!develop!options!for!
enhancing!current!management!programs.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Social!and!natural!science8based!criteria!established!for!effective!coastal!zone!
management!in!Cuba!in!the!face!of!rapid!development!in!the!future.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!
results.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$30,000!8!$40,000!
!
Action'3:'Habitat'Protection:!
!
Field!Research!to!Identify!and!Assess!Essential!Habitats!of!Key!Fisheries!Resources:!Expansion!of!field!
studies!to!assess!the!status!of!essential!habitats!for!ecologically!and!economically!important!fishes!and!
invertebrates.!Studies!would!expand!to!assess!anthropogenic!impacts!and!include!use!of!cultured!
fishes!as!probes!to!examine!water!quality,!habitat!quality,!habitat!connectivity!patterns!in!the!same!
areas!studied!in!the!short8term!action!studies!in!201082011.!Use!of!tagged!cultured!fishes!has!been!
shown!to!be!a!very!effective!tool!for!identifying!habitat!bottlenecks!and!habitat!connectivity!between!
juvenile!and!adult!stages!of!important!inshore!fishes!and!invertebrates.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Transfer!of!stock!replenishment!techniques!coupled!to!habitat!assessment!and!
restoration;!training!in!novel!monitoring!and!assessment!techniques.!!
!!
Estimated!Cost:!$225,000!
!
Determine!Recovery!Trends!in!Coral!Reef!Communities:!Studies!to!examine!relationships!between!fish!
and!invertebrate!populations!and!coral!health.!Some!fish!and!invertebrates!are!disproportionately!
important!in!mediating!community!processes!in!coral!reef!communities.!Examples!include!the!long!
spine!sea!urchin!Diadema!antillarum!and!several!species!of!reef!fishes,!which!declined!throughout!the!
Caribbean!in!the!1980s,!in!part!resulting!in!overgrowth!of!macroalgae!on!reefs.!This!has!interfered!with!
Page 29
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
coral!settlement!and!recruitment!to!reef!communities.!In!this!example,!recovery!trends!need!to!be!
monitored!to!identify!additional!restoration!measures!needed.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Characterization!of!distribution!and!abundance!of!key!reef!fish!and!invertebrate!
species!in!Caribbean!coral!reef!communities,!which!will!improve!predictive!power!of!habitat!
restoration!models!for!coral!reef!communities.!!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!$90,000!
!
Fisherman!Exchange!Project:!Implement!a!fisherman!exchange!project!to!engage!the!fishing!
community!to!improve!fishing!practices!that!avoid!fishing!methods!that!are!destructive!to!essential!fish!
and!invertebrate!habitats,!drawing!from!fishing!practices!in!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Expanded!stakeholder!awareness!and!involvement!in!habitat!conservation!and!
sustainable!fishing!practices.!Publication!and!dissemination!of!results.!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$50,000!
!
Action'4:'Restocking'to'Replenish'Depleted'Stocks:!
!
Restocking!Pilot!Project:!Begin!a!common!snook!and!cobia!pilot!project!to!advance!aquaculture!
information!and!adapt!existing!practices!among!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US!to!provide!fingerlings!for!
restocking.!
!
Outcomes/Products:!The!synergy!from!collaborative!work!by!Cuban,!Mexican!and!US!marine!
aquaculture!scientists!will!advance!marine!fish!aquaculture!and!restocking!effectiveness!in!the!region.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$100,000!8!$200,000!
!
SubXProject:!!Expand!aquaculture!pilot!projects!to!include!demonstration!of!recirculating,!low!
discharge!water!treatment!techniques!for!environmentally!sustainable!aquaculture.!Design,!construct!
and!demonstrate!operation!of!a!low8discharge!aquaculture!facility!in!Cuba,!adapted!to!local!conditions,!
using!new!recirculating!water!exchange!methods!developed!in!the!US.!Demonstrate!use!of!the!facility!
to!produce!common!snook!and!cobia!for!restocking.!!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Tri8lateral!information!transfer!of!proven!water!treatment!systems!and!processes!
for!marine!finfish!aquaculture!production;!demonstration!project!will!provide!data!for!business!
models;!training!in!use!of!water!treatment!information;!expansion!of!sustainable!aquaculture!
practices.!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$200,000!
!
SubXProject:!Conduct!a!project!to!learn!how!to!use!micro8tag!techniques!for!use!with!snook!and!red!
snapper!for!evaluating!the!effects!and!effectiveness!of!stock!enhancement.!
!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Outcomes/Products:!Training!in!modern!tag!technologies!for!monitoring!fish!movement!patterns,!
habitat!use,!growth!and!survival!in!the!wild!and!for!identifying!and!tracking!broodstock!in!aquaculture!
systems.!!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$40,000!8!$50,000!
!
Sub8Project:!Conduct!a!pilot!release8recapture!project!to!identify!optimal!release!strategies!for!stock!
enhancement!of!snook!and!cobia,!and!couple!the!pilot!releases!to!companion!studies!under!Priority83!
designed!to!use!releases!of!cultured!fishes!to!identify!wild8stock!habitat!connectivity!and!life8history!
patterns.!
!
Outcomes/Products:!Demonstration!of!effectiveness!of!responsible!stock!enhancement!practices;!
improved!understanding!of!habitat!use!and!life8history;!increase!in!fish!abundance.!Publication!and!
dissemination!of!results.!
!
Estimated!Cost:!!$350,000!8!$400,000!
!
CrossXCutting!Issues/Needs!
!
• Coordination!to!facilitate!permit!process!for!joint!Cuba8US8Mexico!expeditions!in!Cuban!waters!
using!vessels!rented!in!Cuba!with!US!funds.!
• US!visas!for!visiting!Cuban!scientists!and!students!–!exchange!of!researchers!and!graduate!
students!will!be!essential!for!the!success!of!planned!research,!workshops!and!the!future!of!
collaborations!in!marine!science!between!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!US.!For!example,!Cuban!fisheries!
researchers!should!visit!Mote!Marine!Lab!for!training!in!various!tagging!techniques!and!
aquaculture!techniques;!conversely,!US!researchers!will!need!to!participate!in!expeditions!in!
Cuban!and!Mexican!waters!contributing!their!expertise!in!fisheries!ecology,!fisheries!
management,!and!aquaculture!research!
• Permits!for!taking!scientific!equipment!(GPS,!micro!tags!and!transponders,!satellite!tags,!coded8
wire!tag!equipment,!etc.)!into!Cuba!from!the!US!
• Coordination!of!the!parties!for!joint!Cuba8US8Mexico!expeditions!in!Cuban!waters!using!Cuban!or!
Mexican!research!vessels.!Includes!permit!process!in!Cuba.!
• Internet!communications!improvement!in!Cuba!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
PLAN!OF!ACTION!
Strengthening!and!Extending!the!System!of!Protected!Areas!
!
One!of!the!most!important,!yet!underutilized,!conservation!tools!in!the!marine!environment!is!the!use!
of!marine!protected!areas!(MPAs),!which!serve!to!protect!all!components!of!the!ecosystem!and!can!be!
used!not!only!to!help!ecosystems!recover,!but!also!to!prevent!problems!from!occurring!in!the!first!
place.!Cuba’s!Decree!Law!201!establishes!a!system!of!national!protected!areas!in!eight!categories!of!
protected!status.!Cuba!has!already!announced!an!ambitious!program!to!designate!25!percent!of!its!
waters!as!protected!areas.!Experience!elsewhere!in!design,!management,!enforcement!and!research!
will!help!Cuba!establish!its!own!network!of!protected!areas.!At!the!same!time,!the!scientific!community!
at!large!can!benefit!by!assessing!Cuba’s!approach!to!the!waters!of!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!and!western!
Caribbean,!discussion!of!tri8!or!multi8national!coordination!in!establishing!and!managing!protected!
area!networks!would!benefit!the!entire!region.!!
Research!&!Conservation!Priorities!
!
1. Strengthen!Existing!Marine!Protected!Areas:!Assess!the!effectiveness!and!work!to!strengthen!
Cuba’s!existing!Marine!Protected!Area!(MPA)!network.!
2. Establish!New!Marine!Protected!Areas:!Based!on!additional!research!and!mapping!of!
resources,!design!and!establish!new!MPAs!in!Cuban!waters.!
3. MPA!Information!Exchange:!Develop!an!information!exchange!program!focused!on!MPAs,!
especially!the!design!and!establishment!of!future!MPAs!beyond!the!insular!shelf!and!within!the!
Exclusive!Economic!Zone.!
a. Identify!technical!and!financial!resources.!
b. Develop!expert!exchange!programs,!including!management!training!programs!that!
provide!an!opportunity!for!Cuban!managers!to!learn!from!the!management!of!other!
protected!areas!in!the!region.!!
c. Develop!exchange!of!technical!materials,!including!satellite!images,!reports,!etc.3!!
d. Co8publish!case!studies!on!protected!areas!examining!successes!and!failures;!identify!
opportunities!to!co8publish!in!peer8reviewed!journals.!!
ShortXTerm!Actions!!
!
• Secure!teams!and!personnel!
• Share!information!regarding!methodology!related!to!MPA!Management!Effectiveness,!fiscal!
sustainability!and!GAP!analyses!
3
Numerous resources were identified during the workshop. Of particular note, TNC has developed a Caribbean Decision
Support System tool, a suite of tools designed to assess the suitability of various sustainable development scenarios. Data will
soon be available on a server in Panama. Also, TNC is involved in two projects with the potential for collaboration: In July
2007, the Santo Domingo Declaration was signed by environmental ministers to establish a tri-national biological corridor in
Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. At a recent GEF Caribbean Constituent meeting, a proposal was made to establish
national biological networks, increase management effectiveness, create trust funds, and establish pilot projects for tourism.
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
•
•
•
•
•
Within!the!framework!of!the!V!Cuban!Protected!Areas!Congress,!contact!other!Cuban!experts!
Conduct!a!preliminary!exchange!of!multidisciplinary!teams:!USA,!Cuba,!Mexico.!To!develop!
workplans!(short!term)!and!establish!a!long!term!strategy!
Conduct!a!workshop!related!to!GIS!to!identify!conservation!priorities!and!apply!modern!
methods!to!identify!gaps.!!
Conduct!a!workshop!on!sustainable!financing!and!natural!resource!valuation!(PES)!
Design!a!GIS!portal!to!exchange!and!accumulate!data.!!
LongXTerm!Actions!!
•
•
•
Carry!out!a!workshop!on!the!management!effectiveness!of!MPAs!at!the!system!and!subsystem!
level!
Conduct!an!exchange!of!experiences!between!MPA!managers.!The!fist!workshop!would!take!
place!in!Cuba,!the!following!year!in!Mexico!and!the!third!year!in!the!US!
Publish!at!least!one!case!study!of!success!stories!in!the!three!countries.!!
For!additional!information!and!an!updated!version!of!the!MPA!Action!Plan!as!of!the!Sarasota!2010!
conference,!please!see!report!below.!!
!
The!following!report!was!put!together!by!the!MPA!team!as!a!proxy!for!the!standard!action!plan!report.!!
!
Photo:!Centro!Nacional!de!Areas!Protegidas!de!Cuba!
!
Proposal!Summary!
!
Cuba!is!a!priceless!ecological!treasure.!The!Cuban!government’s!commitment!to!marine!science!and!
conservation,!combined!with!the!island’s!unique!history,!has!led!to!a!significant!expansion!of!the!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
country’s!protected!areas!system!to!include!relatively!large!expanses!of!intact!marine!and!coastal!
habitats,!including!coral!reefs,!mangroves!and!sea!grass!beds.!As!the!expansion!of!Cuba’s!marine!
protected!area!system!unfolds,!there!is!a!need!to!share!the!best!available!information,!tools,!
experience!and!know8how!in!an!effort!to!make!the!management!of!these!new!marine!protected!areas!
as!strong!and!effective!as!possible.!Building!upon!the!cooperative!momentum!forged!via!tri8national!
collaboration!among!Cuba,!Mexico!and!the!United!States,!this!proposal!88!the!product!of!the!Protected!
Areas!working!group!comprised!of!Cuban,!Mexican,!and!U.S.!scientists,!managers!and!government!staff!
88!represents!an!important!step!toward!advancing!a!multi8year!collaborative!effort!among!the!three!
countries.!Described!below!are!two!exchanges!designed!to:!1)!Share!best!practices!for!improving!the!
management!of!Marine!Protected!Areas;!and!2)!Strengthen!Cuba’s!Geographic!Information!System!
(GIS)!and!associated!capacity!to!support!planning!and!improve!decision!support!processes!for!Cuba’s!
Centro!Nacional!de!Areas!Protegidas.!!
!
Areas!of!maximum!conservation!priority!for!the!Cuban!Marine!Protected!Areas!System,!based!on!
ecosystem!gaps!analysis!(Areces!et!al,!2008)!
Background!
Ninety!miles!south!of!the!Florida!Keys,!where!the!Atlantic,!the!Caribbean!and!the!Gulf!of!Mexico!meet,!
Cuba!retains!some!of!the!Caribbean’s!most!pristine!natural!areas.!Largely!as!a!result!of!over!five!
decades!of!isolation!from!the!U.S.,!tourism!and!development!have!not!significantly!impacted!coastal!
areas!to!the!same!extent!they!have!across!the!wider!Caribbean.!!!!!
A!major!challenge!is!posed!by!the!U.S.!economic!embargo!of!Cuba,!which!has!made!collaboration!
between!U.S.!and!Cuban!scientists!difficult!over!the!last!50!years.!Even!though!research!is!a!permitted!
activity!and!U.S.!scientists!are!allowed!to!travel!to!Cuba,!the!harsh!logistical!and!political!realities!have!
prevented!all!but!a!few!U.S.!institutions!from!successful!collaborative!projects!in!Cuba.!Additionally,!it!
should!be!noted!that!Cuban!scientists!and!conservation!professionals!face!substantial!obstacles!with!
regard!to!travel!to!the!US!and!collaboration!with!their!US!counterparts.!!Because!of!the!critical!
importance!of!Cuba’s!marine!systems!and!connectivity!to!the!U.S.!and!Mexico!that!the!Conservancy!
has!joined!forces!with!other!American!NGOs!and!scientists!from!Cuba!and!Mexico!to!develop!a!tri8
Page 34
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
lateral!plan!of!action!to!advance!scientific!research!and!conservation!efforts!for!the!Caribbean!and!Gulf!
of!Mexico.!!
Working!in!Cuba!
Cuba's!coastal!waters!are!vital!to!healthy!fisheries!and!fishing!communities!along!the!southeastern!
coast!of!the!United!States.!The!island's!4,200!islets!and!keys!support!important!commercial!reef!fish!
species,!including!snapper!and!grouper,!as!well!as!iconic!marine!species!like!sea!turtles,!dolphins!and!
manatees.!Prevailing!ocean!currents!carry!fish!larvae!from!Cuba!northward,!benefiting!U.S.!fisheries!
and!tourism!activities.!However,!as!Cuba!becomes!a!more!popular!tourism!destination,!and!increases!
development!in!marine!and!coastal!areas,!it!is!vital!for!U.S.!and!Cuban!scientists!and!conservationists!
to!work!together!to!ensure!the!conservation!and!sustainable!development!of!these!important!linked!
ecosystems.!!!
Since!November!of!2007,!Cuban,!Mexican!and!U.S.8based!scientists,!conservation!professionals!and!
institutions!have!worked!to!advance!scientific!research!and!conservation!across!the!western!Caribbean!
and!the!Gulf!of!Mexico.!A!unique!tri8national!collaboration!has!successfully!strengthened!cooperation,!
understanding!and!relationships!between!scientists,!conservationists!and!institutions!in!the!US,!Cuba!
and!Mexico.!!This!unprecedented!endeavor,!the!Cuba8Mexico8USA!Collaboration!on!Marine!Science!
and!Conservation,!has!been!lead!by!David!Guggenheim!and!Fernando!Bretos!of!The!Ocean!
Conservancy,!with!support!from!other!NGOs,!government!agencies!and!scientists!working!in!those!
countries.!A!series!of!three!international!workshops!have!strengthened!collaboration!in!marine!
research!and!conservation!–!the!first!two!in!Mexico!and!the!most!recent,!in!October!2009,!in!Cuba.!
During!the!events,!participants!established!a!Plan!of!Action!and!working!groups!for!six!priorities!upon!
which!to!collaborate:!1)!coral!reefs;!2)!sharks;!3)!marine!mammals;!4)!sea!turtles;!5)!fisheries!
management;!and!6)!protected!areas.!The!working!groups!then!developed!a!corresponding!suite!of!
research!and!conservation!projects.!The!Conservancy!co8chairs!the!Protected!Areas!Working!Group!
and!is!actively!engaged!in!the!Coral!Reef!Working!group.!!This!proposal!requests!support!for!the!efforts!
of!the!Protected!Area!Working!Group,!which!focuses!on!Marine!Protected!Areas.!!
The!Need!to!Address:!!Improving!Marine!Protected!Area!conservation!in!Cuba!
In!Cuba,!the!creation!of!terrestrial!and!marine!protected!areas!is!a!key!element!in!the!National!
Environment!Strategy.!In!July!1997,!the!government!adopted!the!Environment!Act,!Law!81,!
establishing!general!objectives!for!its!National!System!of!Protected!Areas!(SNAP)!to!preserve!the!most!
significant!values!of!Cuba's!natural!heritage!and,!in!particular,!its!biodiversity,!within!designated!
protected!areas.!!
In!2003,!multi8year!protected!area!gap!analysis!was!completed!with!recommendations!to!establish!263!
new!protected!areas,!108!of!which!are!Marine!Protected!Areas.!With!the!ten!new!protected!areas!
decreed!in!December!2009,!the!SNAP!system!now!includes!over!100!protected!areas,!including!21!
MPAs.!Eight!additional!recommended!sites!are!in!the!process!of!final!approval,!and!the!remaining!are!
in!the!proposal!stage.!Once!the!system!is!fully!established,!41!per!cent!of!the!national!territory,!
including!the!island's!offshore!shelf,!will!be!protected!under!various!management!categories.!!
Page 35
PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
Historically,!Cuba!has!been!slower!to!create!Marine!Protected!Areas!than!terrestrial!reserves.!This!is!
due!to!the!unique!challenges!of!creating!and!managing!protected!marine!habitat!including!limited!
available!knowledge,!minimal!investment!to!implement,!need!to!address!connectivity!and!three8
dimensional!parameters,!and!traditional!resource!use!of!public!waters.!Well8conserved!coral!
formations,!coral!reef!resilience,!connectivity!of!marine!populations,!important!conservation!and!
economic!species,!uncommon!features!(such!as!blue!holes)!and!a!“ridges!to!reef“!scenario!are!
important!factors!considered!by!Cuba!during!the!design!and!establishment!of!Marine!Protected!Areas.!!
Like!many!Marine!Protected!Areas!throughout!the!Caribbean,!and!indeed!the!world,!few!of!Cuba’s!
established!MPAs!are!comprehensively!managed.!Given!the!cost!of!developing!and!managing!these!
protected!areas,!a!priority!component!of!the!SNAP!plan!is!the!search!for!international!funding.!!!
The!Cuba8Mexico8USA!Collaboration!on!Marine!Science!and!Conservation!Protected!Areas!Working!
Group!is!addressing!the!need!to!strengthen!Cuba’s!coastal!and!marine!areas!in!effective!networks!of!
Marine!Protected!Areas.!!The!specific!objectives!of!the!Working!Group!this!year!are!to!support!the!
work!of!the!tri8national!Protected!Areas!Working!Group!as!it!shares!lessons!learned!and!training!to!
effectively!and!efficiently!advance!Marine!Protected!Area!conservation!efforts!underway!in!Cuba.!!Two!
technical!exchanges!are!planned!for!2010!and!2011!which!will!bring!together!20!specialists!from!the!
three!participating!nations!to:!1)!share!lessons!learned!and!methodologies!on!successful!funding!and!
effective!management!of!MPAs;!and!2)!exchange!information!and!offer!training!in!Geographic!
Information!System!technology!for!managing!Marine!Protected!Areas.!The!Conservancy!has!planned!to!
host!one!of!the!exchanges!in!the!US.!!This!will!offer!a!rare!opportunity!for!Cuban!scientists!to!visit!
successfully!managed!MPAs!in!Florida.!!At!the!end!of!the!year,!a!Protected!Area!Working!Group!session!
is!scheduled!to!meet!and!plan!2011!activities.!
Project!Activities!for!2010X2011!
1. TriXnational!Protected!Areas!Workshop!on!Management!Effectiveness!
The!first!workshop!on!Protected!Areas!Management!Effectiveness!for!Marine!Protected!Areas!will!
occur!in!the!fall!of!2010,!hosted!by!the!United!States!and!held!in!the!Florida!Keys!National!Marine!
Sanctuary,!Rookery!Bay!National!Estuarine!Research!Reserve!or!other!suitable!location.!It!will!
represent!the!first!time!that!many!of!Cuba’s!Protected!Areas!staff!have!travelled!to!the!United!States.!
The!workshop!will!focus!on!how!to!increase!the!management!of!Marine!Protected!Areas!at!both!the!
site!and!system!level.!The!beginning!of!the!workshop!will!feature!presentations,!field!visits!and!
modules!that!share!lessons!learned!from!across!Latin!America!and!the!Caribbean.!Later,!each!of!the!
three!participating!countries!will!present!a!case!study!illustrating!and!sharing!their!experience!in!an!
area!in!which!they!have!particular!expertise.!At!the!recent!workshop!in!Havana!the!Protected!Areas!
group!initially!agreed!that!the!Mexican!delegations!would!present!a!case!study!on!visitor!management,!
an!area!in!which!they!have!a!vast,!rich!experience!with.!The!US!case!study!will!focus!on!enforcement!
and!patrolling!and!the!Cuban!case!study!will!focus!on!coastal!zone!management!within!Marine!
Protected!Areas.!The!workshop!will!involve!approximately!20!participants!and!will!last!a!total!of!six!
days.!The!final!output!of!the!workshop!will!be!a!published!account!of!this!historic,!tri8national!
encounter!detailing!the!information!shared!and!lessons!learned.!!!!!!!!
2. TriXnational!Protected!Areas!Workshop!on!Geographic!Information!Systems!
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
The!second!workshop!will!focus!on!the!establishment!and!implementation!of!Cuba’s!Geographic!
Information!System!(GIS)!and!the!management!of!its!conservation!information!database!and!will!occur!
in!late!2010!or!early!2011.!The!workshop!will!be!held!in!Havana!and!will!be!lead!by!the!Conservancy’s!
Dr.!Steve!Schill,!a!leading!authority!on!geospatial!planning,!remote!sensing!and!conservation!planning.!
The!workshop!will!focus!on!strengthening!Cuba’s!capabilities!and!application!of!Cuba’s!GIS!system!and!
will!include!modules!and!training!sessions!on!GIS,!remote!sensing,!information!management!and!new!
methodologies!including!Marxan!and!Marzone8!cutting!edge!techniques!for!the!prioritization!of!new!
Marine!Protected!Areas.!The!final!output!of!the!workshop!will!be!a!vastly!improved!conservation!
information!database!that!is!managed!by!staff!with!improved!GIS,!remote!sensing!and!planning!
capacity.!!!!!!!!!!!
2010X2011!Cuba!Project!Budget!
The!total!201082011!two!year!Cuba!project!budget!is!$98,000.!!It!includes!funding!for!the!following!
elements:!!
Items!
!Cost!
Travel!expenses!
!$15,000!
Supplies/!materials/!equipment!!
!$5,000!
Meetings,!workshops!and!exchanges!(2)!!
!$75,000!
Communication!(phone/fax/email)!and!shipping!
!$3,000!
Total!Expenditures!!
!$98,000!
Potential!Participants!in!the!Protected!Areas!SubXproject:
USA!
The!Nature!Conservancy!
Phil!Kramer!
John!Myers!
Marianne!Kleiberg!
Steve!Schill!
James!Byrne!
Cuba!
Centro!Nacional!de!Áreas!Protegidas!
Maritza!García!García!
Enrique!Hernández!Hernández!
Serafín!Fernández!Roche!
Susana!Perera!Valderrama!
Aylem!Hernández!Ávila!!
Pedro!J.!Ruiz!Hernández!!
!
México!
Comisión!Nacional!de!Áreas!Naturales!
Protegidas,!México!
Jaime!Gonzalez!Cao
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PLAN OF ACTION: TRINATIONAL INITIATIVE
!