Chinchorro bank: a threatened Mexican Caribbean atoll [Recurso electrónico]

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Chinchorro Bank, one of the largest Caribbean atolls, is located 27 km off the south-eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (18, circ47 18, circ23 N, 87, circ14 87, circ27 W) (Jordán and Martin 1987). The ovalshaped atoll is 47 km long and 18 km wide, with a total area of more than 700 km2, it is separated from the mainland by a 1000 m deep channel. Its morphology, reef structures,and species composition of dominant benthic organisms, was described by Jordán and Martin (1987). Since 1966 Chinchorro Bank has been an important zone for the explotation of spiny lobster Panulirus argus and queen conch Strombus gigas which are the most important fisheries on this atoll (Sosa-Cordero et al. 1993). The depletion of populations of both P. argus and S. gigas is evident (Sosa- Cordero 1994). Chávez and Hidalgo (1988) concluded that fisheries are the only antrophogenic impact in Chinchorro Bank, and qualified the effect as chronic. In 1996 Chinchorro Bank was decreed by the Mexican Government as a Biosphere Reserve, one of the categories of marine areas protected in Mexican legislation. However, there is no management plan to date. The southern portion of the Mexican Caribbean is scarcely impacted by human activities. However, there are plans for tourist development. These plans include Chinchorro Bank, which will most likely be a favoured destination for domestic and international tourists after the construction of an hotel on Cayo Centro, a mangrove island in the middle of the reef lagoon. Cayo Centro is a hawskbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting area, and also has a significant population of crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). Since it is clear that the impact of human activities will increase at Chinchorro Bank. eng