Caribbean

Brilliant coral reefs and idyllic stretches of sand make the Caribbean one of the world’s most breathtaking beach destinations. Yet severe overfishing threatens these environmental and economic jewels.

Fish on the Caribbean reef have been declining at about 5 percent annually for the last decade, according to international researchers. Snapper, grouper, conch and parrotfish are all being fished too fast to ensure their survival.

Loss of large predator fish, such as Nassau grouper, is linked to the coral reef’s decline. And overfishing of the colorful parrotfish has severe consequences for the coral and beaches because parrotfish actually create sand. When they eat organisms that live on coral, such as algae, bits of coral that are picked up in their mouths are excreted as sand.  One parrotfish can chew coral into 200 pounds of sand each year.

Currently there are no rules that successfully limit the numbers or size of snappers, groupers or parrotfish that fishermen can catch. But the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, which manages fish resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, is required by law to end overfishing by setting scientifically based limits on the numbers of fish caught annually. Plans are under way to meet these requirements.