Florida’s Aquarium Experts Meet with Cuban Colleagues on Coral Reef Protection

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 23 (acn) Experts and executives of the aquarium located in Florida, the United States, traveled to Cuba to explore a possible association with Havana’s National Aquarium in research works to restore coral reefs.”

The trip and information exchanges have surpassed all my expectations,” pointed out Margo McKnight, vice-president for biological resources of the Florida Aquarium, as reported by The Tampa Tribune newspaper.

McKnight explained that they held a fruitful exchange of information with their Cuban colleagues and agreed that “work together makes sense,” although they didn’t sign any official agreement.

The expert pointed out that the main focus of the meeting was cooperation for research works aimed at restoring coral reefs, which, according to scientists, are under the great threat of pollution and temperature changes of the sea.

In this regard, Florida’s coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate, while Cuba preserves south of the provinces of Camaguey and Ciego de Avila “the most pristine coral reef of the world,” called “Gardens of the Queen” (Jardines de la Reina), she added.

Coral reefs not only protect coasts from the effect of erosion caused by storms, by way of reducing the impact of waves, but also are the natural habitat of over 4,000 species of fish and numerous marine plants.

“Only 90 miles away of Florida coasts, it’s like going back through the tunnel of time to how coral reefs should have been (of this state). We want to study and understand why this ecosystem is so healthy and if we can draw a lesson we can apply,” said the expert.