THE MESOAMERICAN REEF BY: RACHELLE ZALTER

The Mesoamerican Reef acts as a natural barrier against severe storms for its surrounding areas, such as Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. The climate in these locations has become more unstable and unpredictable over the years. The high temperatures have intensified and the storm systems and rainfall have become more severe over the years. The high temperatures in the land have affected the rapidly rising temperatures in the water, which in return is harming the underwater species and habitats. The storms and hurricanes cause erosions, which is problematic in both the peninsula and the surrounding islands due to the rising sea levels.

The Mesoamerican Reef is known for its variation of reef types and magnificent corals. There is over 65 species of stony coral, imagine that! However, this remarkable setting is being threatened due to harsh environmental impacts. One being coral bleaching. The drastic effects of climate change have been warming the water. These high temperatures, raising over two or three degrees Fahrenheit over a short period of time, cause a loss of algae. This is the source of most of the corals food, thus a lack of algae results in coral bleaching. Many species are reliant on healthy corals in order to sustain their habitual conditions. Over 500 species in the Mesoamerican Reef are threatened by the coral bleaching, as they use coral reefs as sanctuaries.

Overfishing is one of the major concerns affecting the Mesoamerican Reef. There are more than two million people which inhabit the coastal communities near the Mesoamerican Reef, which span across four countries. This large population of great cultural diversity relies on the economic activities which are linked to the marine resources, such as fishing. Unfortunately, the region is experiencing rapid population growth, as well as increased exploitation of their common resources. One of the greatest human contributors and largest threats to the Mesoamerican Reef system is the ongoing issue of overfishing. Essentially, recreational and commercial over fishing are depleting populations of conch, finfish, and lobster. However, organizations such as the WWF have begun work with various conservation partners in an attempt to restore and protect this beautiful region.

In the Mesoamerican reef cyanide fishing occurs. This is a method of fishing that is done in order to make the fisherman’s job more efficient and manageable. The cyanide is a toxic poison, which stuns the fish and therefore makes it much easier for them to be caught, as they cannot fend for their lives and swim away. The cyanide is released directly into the crevices of the coral reefs and it is extremely harmful to both the species and the environment. A large percent of the live fish caught by this method do not survive. It may be a faster way to fish, yet with consideration to the threat to the corals and the lives of the inhabitants, it is clear that this method of fishing is unfortunate and wrong.

The lobster stocks in the Bay Islands of Honduras are severely suffering as a result of overfishing. WWF and Darden Restaurants Inc. have collaborated to find stability with the fishery in the Mesoamerican reef. Together they have conducted an experiment on five lobster fishing boats in order to test a trap design that has been modified to restrain from catching undersized lobster, that do not fit legal standards. This method of protection held two thorough experiments in 2008 for the sake of saving the reef and its inhabitants from overfishing.

The catch of juvenile lobsters is a significant threat, directly related to overfishing. However, there are many issues regarding overfishing that need to be addressed in these marine surroundings. The creation of environmentally friendly traps is a logical and realistic protection measure that can and should be considered for all of the overfishing in the Mesoamerican Reef. Five fishing boat owners agreed to make their vessels available for the experiment. It had been conducted by testing seven different trap designs on a total of 56 lobster traps. Each of these are constructed of wooden slats: these must have openings that are perfectly sized in order for the juvenile lobsters to slip away but the legal-sized larger lobsters to be collected. The many designs that had been testing each have a different size gap between the bottom two slats. This was scheduled to take place in Sandy Bay and West End Marine Park (lobster fishing is prohibited here so there are plenty of lobsters) and the seven sets of traps were placed on the sea floor, feet deep.

Sustainable traps boost lobster conservation in central america. (2006). Retrieved from america.panda.org/about/countries/nicaragua/?uNewsID=70840http://central- america.panda.org/about/countries/nicaragua/?uNewsID=70840 Depletion. (2011). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 27, 2011, from Mesoamerican reef > the lobster expedition. (2009). Retrieved from xpedition1.html xpedition1.html Mesoamerican reef: threats. (2009). Retrieved from html