26
W.D. Heyman and B. Kjerfve
The reef exhibits typical barrier reef structure with shallow back reef, reef
crest, scattered cays (Fig. 1.31), fore-reef slope, and spur and groove morphology on the deep fore-reef (Fig. 1.3J; Rtitzler and Macintyre 1982).
Several promontories on the crest of the reef, including Gladden Spit, favor
spawning aggregations of a variety of commercially important reef fishes
(i.e., groupers, snappers, jacks). Similar to other reefs in the Caribbean, the
reefs of southern Belize suffer a rapid decline in coral cover and fish abundance due to synergistic impacts of increased sea water temperature, freshwater intrusions, and overfishing.
1.3.6 Open Ocean Environment
Directly offshore from the barrier reef the water-depth Cayman Trench
drops steeply to more than 2000 m (Figs. 1.1, 1.3J). The open ocean environment of the Gulf of Honduras provides habitat for species like Spanish
mackerel (Scomboromerous maculatus), kingfish (S. cavalla), bonito
(Sarda sarda), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), yellowfin tuna (T. albacares), bigeye tuna (T. obesus),
wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), sailfish (Istiophorus playtpterus), blue
marlin (Makaira nigricans), and whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).
1.4 Land Use and Economic Activities
The Gulf coast is home to half a million inhabitants, with major population centers in Guatemala (Puerto Barrios 100,000 and Livingston 40,000),
Honduras (Puerto Cortes 100,000), and Punta Gorda (4,000) as the largest
coastal town in southern Belize. The majority of residents are of Mayan,
Latin, Creole, and Garifuna descent, thus the region is a melting pot and
rich in indigenous cultures and traditional ways of life. Major upland activities surrounding the Gulf of Honduras include agriculture,
forestry extraction, cattle farming, aquaculture, fishing and industrial
shipping.
The banana industry has been an active contributor to the development
of the region, especially in northern Honduras and Guatemala. Bananas
grow best in low-lying riparian and flood plain areas along rivers, and
large-scale cultivation relies heavily on pesticides, fungicides, herbicides
and extra nutrients. As a result, the banana industry has had severe deleterious effects on estuaries, coastal and marine habitats via sedimentation,
changes in hydrology, and eutrophication (Readman et al. 1992; Castillo et
W.D. Heyman and B. Kjerfve
The reef exhibits typical barrier reef structure with shallow back reef, reef
crest, scattered cays (Fig. 1.31), fore-reef slope, and spur and groove morphology on the deep fore-reef (Fig. 1.3J; Rtitzler and Macintyre 1982).
Several promontories on the crest of the reef, including Gladden Spit, favor
spawning aggregations of a variety of commercially important reef fishes
(i.e., groupers, snappers, jacks). Similar to other reefs in the Caribbean, the
reefs of southern Belize suffer a rapid decline in coral cover and fish abundance due to synergistic impacts of increased sea water temperature, freshwater intrusions, and overfishing.
1.3.6 Open Ocean Environment
Directly offshore from the barrier reef the water-depth Cayman Trench
drops steeply to more than 2000 m (Figs. 1.1, 1.3J). The open ocean environment of the Gulf of Honduras provides habitat for species like Spanish
mackerel (Scomboromerous maculatus), kingfish (S. cavalla), bonito
(Sarda sarda), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), yellowfin tuna (T. albacares), bigeye tuna (T. obesus),
wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), sailfish (Istiophorus playtpterus), blue
marlin (Makaira nigricans), and whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).
1.4 Land Use and Economic Activities
The Gulf coast is home to half a million inhabitants, with major population centers in Guatemala (Puerto Barrios 100,000 and Livingston 40,000),
Honduras (Puerto Cortes 100,000), and Punta Gorda (4,000) as the largest
coastal town in southern Belize. The majority of residents are of Mayan,
Latin, Creole, and Garifuna descent, thus the region is a melting pot and
rich in indigenous cultures and traditional ways of life. Major upland activities surrounding the Gulf of Honduras include agriculture,
forestry extraction, cattle farming, aquaculture, fishing and industrial
shipping.
The banana industry has been an active contributor to the development
of the region, especially in northern Honduras and Guatemala. Bananas
grow best in low-lying riparian and flood plain areas along rivers, and
large-scale cultivation relies heavily on pesticides, fungicides, herbicides
and extra nutrients. As a result, the banana industry has had severe deleterious effects on estuaries, coastal and marine habitats via sedimentation,
changes in hydrology, and eutrophication (Readman et al. 1992; Castillo et