116
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
of numerous small oil spills in addition to occasional large
spills are believed to have adversely affected the coral
reefs. Fishing is at least partially regulated in the reefs
near Veracruz, while Campeche Bank is heavily exploited.
The Caribbean reefs have been subject to intense
artisanal fishing since the 1960s, and tourism has
developed enormously since the mid-1970s. Small reef
patches, such as El Garrafon at Isia Mujeres and Punta
Nizuc at Cancun. have been completely destroyed by
tourism and impacts are becoming more evident elsewhere
along the Cancun-Tulum touristic corridor in places such
as Akumal and Puerto Morelos. as well as the offshore
island of Cozumel. The impacts of construction and inadequate sewage systems in porous karst limestone, combined
with the direct impacts of anchor damage and diver damage,
are a cause for concern throughout this area.
A large number of marine protected areas have been
declared which include coral reefs. Active management in
some of these is supporting increased protection of coral
reef resources m these areas.
m-'-^
Protected areas with coral reefs
1
1
Site name
Designation
Abbreviation
lUCN caL
Size Ikmil
Year 1
Mexico
Archipielago de RevlUaglgedo
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N|
VI
6 366.85
1994
Arrecife Alacranes
National Marine Park
NMP
II
3 337.69
1994
Arrecifes de Cozumel
National Park
NP
II
119.88
1996
Arrecifes de Puerto Morelos
National Park
NP
II
108.28
1998
Arrecifes de Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve (National)
BR(N1
VI
349.27
1998
I
Bahia de Loreto
National Marine Park
NMP
II
2 065.81
1996
Banco Chinchorro
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N!
VI
1 443.60
1996
Cabo Pulmo
National Marine Park
NMP
II
71.11
1995
Costa Occidental
de Isla Cozunnel
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
IV
na
1980
Costa Occidental
de Isla Mujeres
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
IV
6.64
1973
Fondo Cabo San Lucas
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
na
na
1973
Isla Contoy
National Park
NP
II
51.26
1998
Isla Mujeres,
Punta Cancun y Punta Nizuc
National Park
NP
V
86.73
1996
La BlanquiUa
Other Area
ETC
IV
668.68
1975
Laguna de Chankanaab
Parque Natural
PNat
Unassigned
na
1983
Los Arcos
Other Area
ETC
V
na
1975
'
Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N!
VI
II
5 281.47
522.39
1986
1992
,
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano
National Marine Park
NMP
1
Xcalak
National Marine Park
NMP
II
na
2000
ISLAS DEL GOLFO OE CALIFORNIA
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
3 603.60
1995
Sian Ka'an
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
5 281.48
1986
Sian Ka'an
World Heritage Site
5 280.00
1987
I
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
of numerous small oil spills in addition to occasional large
spills are believed to have adversely affected the coral
reefs. Fishing is at least partially regulated in the reefs
near Veracruz, while Campeche Bank is heavily exploited.
The Caribbean reefs have been subject to intense
artisanal fishing since the 1960s, and tourism has
developed enormously since the mid-1970s. Small reef
patches, such as El Garrafon at Isia Mujeres and Punta
Nizuc at Cancun. have been completely destroyed by
tourism and impacts are becoming more evident elsewhere
along the Cancun-Tulum touristic corridor in places such
as Akumal and Puerto Morelos. as well as the offshore
island of Cozumel. The impacts of construction and inadequate sewage systems in porous karst limestone, combined
with the direct impacts of anchor damage and diver damage,
are a cause for concern throughout this area.
A large number of marine protected areas have been
declared which include coral reefs. Active management in
some of these is supporting increased protection of coral
reef resources m these areas.
m-'-^
Protected areas with coral reefs
1
1
Site name
Designation
Abbreviation
lUCN caL
Size Ikmil
Year 1
Mexico
Archipielago de RevlUaglgedo
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N|
VI
6 366.85
1994
Arrecife Alacranes
National Marine Park
NMP
II
3 337.69
1994
Arrecifes de Cozumel
National Park
NP
II
119.88
1996
Arrecifes de Puerto Morelos
National Park
NP
II
108.28
1998
Arrecifes de Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve (National)
BR(N1
VI
349.27
1998
I
Bahia de Loreto
National Marine Park
NMP
II
2 065.81
1996
Banco Chinchorro
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N!
VI
1 443.60
1996
Cabo Pulmo
National Marine Park
NMP
II
71.11
1995
Costa Occidental
de Isla Cozunnel
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
IV
na
1980
Costa Occidental
de Isla Mujeres
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
IV
6.64
1973
Fondo Cabo San Lucas
Area de Proteccion de
Flora y Fauna
APFFS
na
na
1973
Isla Contoy
National Park
NP
II
51.26
1998
Isla Mujeres,
Punta Cancun y Punta Nizuc
National Park
NP
V
86.73
1996
La BlanquiUa
Other Area
ETC
IV
668.68
1975
Laguna de Chankanaab
Parque Natural
PNat
Unassigned
na
1983
Los Arcos
Other Area
ETC
V
na
1975
'
Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve (National!
BR(N!
VI
II
5 281.47
522.39
1986
1992
,
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano
National Marine Park
NMP
1
Xcalak
National Marine Park
NMP
II
na
2000
ISLAS DEL GOLFO OE CALIFORNIA
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
3 603.60
1995
Sian Ka'an
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
5 281.48
1986
Sian Ka'an
World Heritage Site
5 280.00
1987
I