March 2008

On January 29 CEA inaugurated 2008 as the International Year of the Reef with a reef photo exhibit. The exhibition took place in the CEA Center, where more than 120 people came to see the great images that locals and tourists provided.

Quintana Roo's reefs are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second largest in the world, extending from the northeast tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, down through the coasts of Belize and Guatemala, all the way to the Bay Islands in Honduras. They are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, and are home to over 4,000 fish species, 800 coral species, and more. They protect the coast from erosion, tropical storms and hurricanes. Coral reefs attract tourism, making them an important factor in the local economy.

Reef ecosystems are very fragile and susceptible to natural and man-made changes such as those caused by coastal development, mangrove deforestation, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, coral harvesting, the physical impact from those who touch or stand on coral, water pollution, hurricanes and global warming.

With events such as these, CEA hopes to get people involved in environmental issues by raising awareness about the beauty and importance of marine and coastal ecosystems. The photo exhibit is just the beginning of a big list of activities. We believe that we will be able to reach our goal to communicate and educate people about the importance of protecting one of the most vital reef systems in the world—the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Check our calendar for upcoming events.

We thank the photographers: Gonzalo Arcila, Hamid Rad, Pablo Díaz, Steve Dramstad, Gretta Blatner, Joel Ortega, and Juan Pablo Montoya; and Jennifer Smith for her support.

Please:

• Do not walk or stand on coral.
• Avoid holding on to coral and take care not to kick coral when swimming nearby; the delicate coral tissue is easily broken.
• Do not remove anything dead or alive from the sea—you may be interfering with the natural balance of the coastal ecosystems.
• Avoid stirring up the bottom of the sea since sediment smothers coral.
• Avoid collecting seashells. These could provide habitats for sea creatures such as crabs.
• Do not be tempted to touch marine life. Marine creatures are covered by a layer of mucus which protects them against bacteria and this protective layer might be broken.
• Do not disturb sea creatures by chasing them, tugging them, riding them or provoking them. This is extremely stressful for the animal. Let them approach you!
• Make sure that the fish you purchase for aquariums are not wild caught.
• Do not leave trash on the beach. Not only does a clean beach make your experience more esthetically pleasing but it helps remove a significant danger to marine life.