Western Caribbean
139
Jamaica
MAPsh
Jamaica
is the third largest island in the Greater
Antilles and is located in the center of the Caribbean
Sea. Cuba. 150 kilometers north, moderates the
effects of the northeast trade winds on the fringing reefs
of the north coast, which grow on a narrow shelf Patchy
reef formations on the south coast, punctuated by rivers
and sediment slopes, grow on a wider shelf extending up
to 20 kilometers offshore. Reefs and corals also grow
on nine offshore banks, notably at the Pedro Cays, 70
kilometers south, and the Morant Cays, 50 kilometers to
the southeast. Coral cover on the mainland fringing reefs
is low, although this was not always the case (see below).
Cretaceous basement rocks are covered by Tertiary
limestone, and on the north coast by Pleistocene reef
deposits. Past changes in sea level have created terraces
above and below present sea level to form raised or
drowned cliffs. There are two wet seasons, in October
and May, and two dry seasons. The water temperature
on the north coast ranges from 26 to 30°C. The weather,
particularly on the north coast, is dominated by the
northeast trade winds, occasionally interrupted by cold
fronts from North America in winter. Two of the most
severe hurricanes on record, Allen and Gilbert, hit Jamaica
in the 1980s, with significant impacts on the coral reefs.
M M 1 M M I 10 km
Jamaica has a long history of exploiting its marine
resources. Since early colonial days there was a substantial import of fish to feed the growing population,
including turtle meat from the Cayman Islands, and dried
fish from North America. Fishing the immediate offshore
waters was also undertaken, but the maximum yield of
some 1 1 000 tons offish per year in the 1960s was clearly
unsustainable and fish stocks have now collapsed.
Overfishing is particularly bad on the north coast, where
the narrow coastal shelf concentrates fishing into a
smaller area, while making the shallow reef communities
more accessible. Many of the fish now caught have not yet
attained reproductive maturity, and it has been suggested
that reef fish stocks in Jamaica may be being supplemented by fish larvae from other parts of the Caribbean.
The offshore banks are also heavily fished, and there is a
large conch fishery on Pedro Bank.
Jamaican reefs are further stressed by human impacts
resulting from terrestrial activities, including sedimentation caused by soil erosion, but more particularly from
nutrient pollution. Coastal development has been rapid in
many parts of Jamaica, encouraged by massive tourism
developments. In many areas sewage receives little or
no treatment.
Portland Bight in southern Jamaica. This important area for coral reefs and mangroves was declared a protected area
in 1999, and has full community involvement in its management ISTS065-95-82, 199il.
139
Jamaica
MAPsh
Jamaica
is the third largest island in the Greater
Antilles and is located in the center of the Caribbean
Sea. Cuba. 150 kilometers north, moderates the
effects of the northeast trade winds on the fringing reefs
of the north coast, which grow on a narrow shelf Patchy
reef formations on the south coast, punctuated by rivers
and sediment slopes, grow on a wider shelf extending up
to 20 kilometers offshore. Reefs and corals also grow
on nine offshore banks, notably at the Pedro Cays, 70
kilometers south, and the Morant Cays, 50 kilometers to
the southeast. Coral cover on the mainland fringing reefs
is low, although this was not always the case (see below).
Cretaceous basement rocks are covered by Tertiary
limestone, and on the north coast by Pleistocene reef
deposits. Past changes in sea level have created terraces
above and below present sea level to form raised or
drowned cliffs. There are two wet seasons, in October
and May, and two dry seasons. The water temperature
on the north coast ranges from 26 to 30°C. The weather,
particularly on the north coast, is dominated by the
northeast trade winds, occasionally interrupted by cold
fronts from North America in winter. Two of the most
severe hurricanes on record, Allen and Gilbert, hit Jamaica
in the 1980s, with significant impacts on the coral reefs.
M M 1 M M I 10 km
Jamaica has a long history of exploiting its marine
resources. Since early colonial days there was a substantial import of fish to feed the growing population,
including turtle meat from the Cayman Islands, and dried
fish from North America. Fishing the immediate offshore
waters was also undertaken, but the maximum yield of
some 1 1 000 tons offish per year in the 1960s was clearly
unsustainable and fish stocks have now collapsed.
Overfishing is particularly bad on the north coast, where
the narrow coastal shelf concentrates fishing into a
smaller area, while making the shallow reef communities
more accessible. Many of the fish now caught have not yet
attained reproductive maturity, and it has been suggested
that reef fish stocks in Jamaica may be being supplemented by fish larvae from other parts of the Caribbean.
The offshore banks are also heavily fished, and there is a
large conch fishery on Pedro Bank.
Jamaican reefs are further stressed by human impacts
resulting from terrestrial activities, including sedimentation caused by soil erosion, but more particularly from
nutrient pollution. Coastal development has been rapid in
many parts of Jamaica, encouraged by massive tourism
developments. In many areas sewage receives little or
no treatment.
Portland Bight in southern Jamaica. This important area for coral reefs and mangroves was declared a protected area
in 1999, and has full community involvement in its management ISTS065-95-82, 199il.