Western Caribbean
In Panama, Pacific reefs are best developed around
offshore islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui in the west and the
Gulf of Panama m the east. At the latter, the largest areas
of reef are around Las Perlas Archipelago, a group of 53
basaltic islands. Reefs are best developed on northern and
eastern sides, facing away from the upwelling currents.
These islands were severely impacted by the 1982-83
bleaching, and live coral cover on some reefs remains
below 2 percent, although Isia Iguana has over 30 percent.
In the Gulf of Chiriqui the reefs are less affected by
upwellings and El Nifio events, and tend to be larger and
more diverse - these are probably the best developed reefs
on the continental shelf of the Eastern Pacific. There are
also some pocilloporid reefs associated with the mainland
around Ensenada de Muertos. Bahia Honda and Punta
Entrada. On the offshore islands fringing reefs have clear
patterns of zonation. Most of these reefs remain
inaccessible to recreational divers.
In addition to these reefs. Costa Rica also incorporates the remote Isla del Coco which lies half-way
between mainland Costa Rica and the Galapagos. This
island is reported to have coral cover over much of its
offshore slopes, dominated by Porites lobala.
Protected areas wi th coral reefs
Site name ^^^^^^^^^| 1
^B Designatlon^^J^^^I 1 Abbreviation lUCN cat. Size Ikm'l YearB
Costa Rica
Cabo Blanco
Strict Nature Reserve
SNR
la
11.72
1963
Cahuita
National Park
NP
II
U0.22
1970
Gandoca-ManzaniUo
National Wildlife Refuge
NWR
IV
94.i9
1985
Isla del Cafio
Biological Reserve
BiR
la
2.00
1978
Isla del Coco
National Park
NP
II
23.6^
1978
Manuel Antonio
National Park
NP
II
6.82
1972
Marino Ballena
National Park
NP
II
42.00
1990
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste
World Heritage Site
1 310.00
1999
Cocos Island National Park
World Heritage Site
997.00
1997
1995
1998
Gandoca-Manzanillo
Ramsar Site
94.45
Isla del Coco
Ramsar Site
996.23
Panama
3 200.00
132.26
359.29
1938
1988
1976
Comarca Kuna Yala (San Bias)
Indigenous Commarc
IndCo
na
Isla Bastimentos
National Park
NP
II
Portobelo
National Park
NP
II
Punta Patii^o
Ramsar Site
'
138.05
1993
A Kuna Indian in Panama with a catch of spiny lobster Panulirus argus.
In Panama, Pacific reefs are best developed around
offshore islands in the Gulf of Chiriqui in the west and the
Gulf of Panama m the east. At the latter, the largest areas
of reef are around Las Perlas Archipelago, a group of 53
basaltic islands. Reefs are best developed on northern and
eastern sides, facing away from the upwelling currents.
These islands were severely impacted by the 1982-83
bleaching, and live coral cover on some reefs remains
below 2 percent, although Isia Iguana has over 30 percent.
In the Gulf of Chiriqui the reefs are less affected by
upwellings and El Nifio events, and tend to be larger and
more diverse - these are probably the best developed reefs
on the continental shelf of the Eastern Pacific. There are
also some pocilloporid reefs associated with the mainland
around Ensenada de Muertos. Bahia Honda and Punta
Entrada. On the offshore islands fringing reefs have clear
patterns of zonation. Most of these reefs remain
inaccessible to recreational divers.
In addition to these reefs. Costa Rica also incorporates the remote Isla del Coco which lies half-way
between mainland Costa Rica and the Galapagos. This
island is reported to have coral cover over much of its
offshore slopes, dominated by Porites lobala.
Protected areas wi th coral reefs
Site name ^^^^^^^^^| 1
^B Designatlon^^J^^^I 1 Abbreviation lUCN cat. Size Ikm'l YearB
Costa Rica
Cabo Blanco
Strict Nature Reserve
SNR
la
11.72
1963
Cahuita
National Park
NP
II
U0.22
1970
Gandoca-ManzaniUo
National Wildlife Refuge
NWR
IV
94.i9
1985
Isla del Cafio
Biological Reserve
BiR
la
2.00
1978
Isla del Coco
National Park
NP
II
23.6^
1978
Manuel Antonio
National Park
NP
II
6.82
1972
Marino Ballena
National Park
NP
II
42.00
1990
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste
World Heritage Site
1 310.00
1999
Cocos Island National Park
World Heritage Site
997.00
1997
1995
1998
Gandoca-Manzanillo
Ramsar Site
94.45
Isla del Coco
Ramsar Site
996.23
Panama
3 200.00
132.26
359.29
1938
1988
1976
Comarca Kuna Yala (San Bias)
Indigenous Commarc
IndCo
na
Isla Bastimentos
National Park
NP
II
Portobelo
National Park
NP
II
Punta Patii^o
Ramsar Site
'
138.05
1993
A Kuna Indian in Panama with a catch of spiny lobster Panulirus argus.