Caribbean Coral Reefs Nearing Destruction

Reported to be taken off of Mayagüez

Most of the coral on reefs in the Caribbean are dead with less than 10 percent on average having live coral cover, a startling new report shows.

The report published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last week shows that the Caribbean coral reefs have died off mainly due to damaging fishing methods, climate change, disease, and pollution. 

Only 8 percent of the average coral cover lives on the reef today, compared with more than 50 percent in the 1970s, the report stated.

It added that the rate of coral decline is not slowing down!  Warmer water sent through the area by passing hurricanes has harmed reefs, the report said. “Coral bleaching,” as it is called, is also a more frequent occurrence and is caused by pollution and warming seas. When coral is under stress, it cannot sustain the algae that give it its color. 

Total coral coverage in the Florida Keys, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico has declined from around 25 or 35 percent in the 1970s to less than 15 percent today, the report stated.

From the Epoch Times.

What is Culebra's Geography?

80% Volcanic Rock

Culebra is characterized by an irregular topography resulting in a long intricate shoreline. The island is approximately 7 by 5 miles (11 by 8 km). The coast is marked by cliffs, sandy coral beaches and mangrove forests. Inland, the tallest point on the island is Mount Resaca, with an elevation of 650 feet (198 m), followed by Balcón Hill, with an elevation of 541 feet (164.9 m).

Ensenada Honda is the largest harbor on the island and is considered to be the most hurricane secure harbor in the Caribbean. There are also several lagoons on the island, like Corcho, Flamenco, and Zoní. Culebrita Island also has a lagoon called Molino.

Almost 80% of the island's area is volcanic rock from the Cretaceous period. It is mostly used for livestock pasture, as well as some minor agriculture.

Puerto Rico Tourism By The Numbers

Caribbean Visitors in 2011

Destination	Period	Tourist Arrivals
Anguilla	Jan.-May	32,829
Antigua & Barbuda	Jan.-May	114,479
Aruba	Jan.-Aug.	595,155
Bahamas	Jan.-Apr.	467,603
Barbados	Jan.-Aug.	397,073
Belize	Jan.-June	140,616
British Virgin Islands	Jan.-May	175,131
Cayman Islands	Jan.-July	206,453
Cuba	Jan.-July	1,747,508
Curacao	Jan.-July	219,010
Dominica	Jan.-June	34,877
Dominican Republic	Jan.-July	2,712,307
Grenada	Jan.-June	56,208
Guyana	Jan.-July	89,899
Jamaica	Jan.-May	879,331
Martinique	Jan.-May	223,947
Puerto Rico	Jan.-June	781,362
Saint Lucia	Jan.-Aug.	212,486
St. Maarten	Jan.-March	134,025
St. Vincent & the Grenadines	Jan.-June	38,378
Suriname	Jan.-Aug.	143,872
U.S. Virgin Islands	Jan.-Aug.	487,588

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/13/2500560/record-year-expected-for-tourism.html#ixzz1e3Atrhoq

Analisys

I bet we're spending more on tourism than everyone on this list and we're still getting our asses kicked. There has to be a better way! Why don't we want to be successful? If we could unite, I know we can do better. It's just that all signs point to more of the same. There is clearly collusion and soft corruption within the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Puerto Rico Hotels Association.

Corporations and governments are the key sources on unfair wealth distribution. I think if more people could get a larger share in the overall wealth distribution it would provide a more stable base to grow our economy.

But if there's more money available to us through the free market, and we don't go after it; what does that say about us? I for one, think the money spent on obvious boondongles within Tourism, should be spent on helping everyone on the island.

At one point I analysed the USVI budget, and they spend around 3-4 million a year on tourism, which includes sanitation and security. I recently heard that our Tourism budget seven-times that, at $28 million, and I heard a rumor that that was going to be doubling during 2012. "¡Mira como llueve antes de los elecciones!" Fifty Six million, and we might make it into third! Wow!

I wonder what the per capita rate is?