Eastern Caribbean and Atlantic
147
Chapter 6
Eastern Caribbean and
Atlantic
The
Eastern Caribbean region is donninated
by small islands, lying in a broad arc around
the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea.
Fringing coral reef communities are found
in places on the shores of most islands,
although their condition varies considerably. The
region also includes the long coastline of Venezuela
and, although there is virtually no reef development
along this shore, there are important reefs associated
with the offshore chain of islands immediately to
the north.
As with other areas of the Caribbean, the reefs
of the Eastern Caribbean have suffered considerably
from the combined impacts of the Diadema die-off and
coral disease. Many of the more northerly islands have
also been swept by major hurricanes in recent years,
greatly reducing coral cover over wide areas.
Tourism is the largest industry in this region and
vast numbers of visitors have driven rapid and often
poorly planned coastal development, with associated
problems of sedimentation and pollution. Patterns of
fishing, and of overfishing, vary considerably between
islands. The region also contains some important
protected areas, notably those off Saba, Bonaire and
St. Lucia, which have been particularly well managed,
leading to the maintenance or recovery of healthy reef
ecosystems in localized areas. These provide a model
for reef management throughout the region.
Beyond the waters of the Caribbean there are
some considerable reefs and coral communities
along the coastline of Brazil. Although still poorly
known, these reefs are receiving increasing attention
and house important and unusual communities, with
a high proportion of endemic species. In the few
scattered islands of the Central Atlantic and along the
less turbid areas of the West African coastline some
coral communities are also recorded, although there is
no significant development of large reef structures.
Left: The island of Barbuda. Lesser Antilles has extensive fringing reefs ISTS026-35-11, 19881. Right: The butter hamlet
Hypoplectrus unicolor is a distinctive Caribbean species, with a range of highly distinctive color morphs. This one is the
barred variety var. puella.
147
Chapter 6
Eastern Caribbean and
Atlantic
The
Eastern Caribbean region is donninated
by small islands, lying in a broad arc around
the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea.
Fringing coral reef communities are found
in places on the shores of most islands,
although their condition varies considerably. The
region also includes the long coastline of Venezuela
and, although there is virtually no reef development
along this shore, there are important reefs associated
with the offshore chain of islands immediately to
the north.
As with other areas of the Caribbean, the reefs
of the Eastern Caribbean have suffered considerably
from the combined impacts of the Diadema die-off and
coral disease. Many of the more northerly islands have
also been swept by major hurricanes in recent years,
greatly reducing coral cover over wide areas.
Tourism is the largest industry in this region and
vast numbers of visitors have driven rapid and often
poorly planned coastal development, with associated
problems of sedimentation and pollution. Patterns of
fishing, and of overfishing, vary considerably between
islands. The region also contains some important
protected areas, notably those off Saba, Bonaire and
St. Lucia, which have been particularly well managed,
leading to the maintenance or recovery of healthy reef
ecosystems in localized areas. These provide a model
for reef management throughout the region.
Beyond the waters of the Caribbean there are
some considerable reefs and coral communities
along the coastline of Brazil. Although still poorly
known, these reefs are receiving increasing attention
and house important and unusual communities, with
a high proportion of endemic species. In the few
scattered islands of the Central Atlantic and along the
less turbid areas of the West African coastline some
coral communities are also recorded, although there is
no significant development of large reef structures.
Left: The island of Barbuda. Lesser Antilles has extensive fringing reefs ISTS026-35-11, 19881. Right: The butter hamlet
Hypoplectrus unicolor is a distinctive Caribbean species, with a range of highly distinctive color morphs. This one is the
barred variety var. puella.