US-Cuba sea mission finds healthy reefs, invasive lionfish

US-Cuba sea mission finds healthy reefs, invasive lionfish
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
HAVANA — Jul 4, 2017, 6:28 PM ET

A joint U.S.-Cuban expedition to explore the island's coral reefs
uncovered a surprisingly healthy ecosystem and large schools of mackerel
with significant commercial value, scientists involved in the mission
said Tuesday.

The study also found alarmingly high numbers of invasive lionfish, which
is not native to the Western Hemisphere and has become a growing marine
menace in recent years.

"We found an incredible amount of diversity, especially in algae and
sponges, and the reefs were in incredible health as well," said Patricia
Gonzalez of the Marine Investigations Center at the University of
Havana. "Some of the most fascinating results have to do with widespread
coral coverage, in some cases up to 70 and 80 percent ... and some
species we believe are new."

The preliminary findings came from an expedition aboard a boat that
sailed more than 1,400 nautical miles around Cuba in May and June.

Scientists said the mission was made possible by the restoration of
diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington two years ago under
then-President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

It was a result of an agreement signed in 2015 between the U.S. National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. National Park Service
and Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.

Florida Atlantic University provided technology aboard the boat that
allowed specialists to observe coral reefs at a depth of over 200 feet
(60 meters), participants said.

Scientists predicted such cooperative ventures will continue despite
current President Donald Trump's new policy toward the communist-run
country, which would prohibit most new American transactions with Cuban
military-linked businesses and restrict some U.S. travel to the island.

"Environment and science are two issues that everyone can agree on,"
said Dan Whittle of the Environmental Defense Fund. "It's fairly
apolitical, and if you look into the Trump National Security Directive,
there's a line in there that identifies science and the environment as
one area of engagement that will continue."

Source: US-Cuba sea mission finds healthy reefs, invasive lionfish - ABC
News -
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-cuba-sea-mission-finds-healthy-reefs-invasive-48441109