New Species of Fish, Seaweed Discovered in Caribbean

By Anonymous

An underwater mountain that forms the world’s third-largest atoll has some of the richest diversity of marine life ever found in the Caribbean, according to scientists who recently explored the area.

The two-week expedition earlier this year encountered new species of fish, seaweed and other ocean life at littlestudied Saba Bank Atoll, a coral-crowned seamount 250 kilometers southeast of Puerto Rico.

In a series of dives buffeted by high winds and strong currents, scientists from Conservation International, the Netherlands Antilles government and the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History found scores more fish species than previously known in the region and vast beds of diverse seaweed, including a dozen or more possible new species.

The unprecedented richness of marine life and vulnerable status of the atoll’s coral beds make Saba Bank a prime candidate for designation as a particularly sensitive sea area (PSSA) under the International Maritime Organization.

Mark Littler, a marine botanist from the Museum of Natural History, declared Saba Bank the richest area for seaweeds in the Caribbean basin, including as many as a dozen new species along with commercially valuable species that will facilitate the creation of economic activity zones under PSSA designation.

Paul Hoetjes, a marine biologist with the Ministry of Nature Affairs for the Netherlands Antilles, called the expedition crucial to getting the area protected to benefit local populations.

A petroleum trans-shipment depot on neighboring St. Eustatius island causes significant marine traffic. According to the researchers, the fragile ecosystems of Saba Bank get damaged by anchors and chains of ships that wait at the atoll to avoid anchoring fees in the territorial waters of St. Eustatius.

The large ships also endanger local fishermen of Saba in their small boats, forcing them away from traditional fishing grounds.

From this research, the Hydrographie Service of the Royal Netherlands Navy has decided to launch a six-week survey of Saba Bank by the HNLMS Snellius. Information from the diving expedition and hydrographical survey will help prepare the campaign to get Saba Bank designated as a PSSA.

Copyright Compass Publications, Inc. Mar 2006