Coral Currents, the newsletter of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), reports on efforts to help world reef systems, and the mixed observations experts have reported off the coast of Honduras, namely the Swan Islands (often called the Galapagos of the Caribbean) and Cordelia Banks—one of CORAL’s high-priority conservation areas.

Located about ninety miles off the coast of mainland Honduras is a chain of islands known as the Swan Islands. Dubbed the “Galapagos of the Caribbean,” this area is home to rare and endangered species including staghorn coral, elkhorn coral, and the great hammerhead shark.

Unfortunately, overfishing has taken a toll on this unique ecosystem, and reefs that would normally be teeming with life are struggling. Recently, the area received a welcomed boost of conservation support. A Mission Blue expedition, led by world-renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle, paid a visit to the Swan Islands. Dr. Earle’s team of divers and a group of local conservation experts, including CORAL’s Honduras Field Manager Jenny Myton, set out to document the health of this critical ecosystem. The results were alarming. The team found only a few large predators on the reef and mainly juvenile fish species. “A healthy reef of this kind would normally be filled with large grouper, snapper, and Caribbean reef sharks,” said CORAL’s Jenny Myton. “The lack of protection in the area has sadly led to the over-extraction of marine life.”

After assessing the reefs around the Swan Islands, Jenny led Dr. Earle’s team to Cordelia Banks—one of CORAL’s high-priority conservation areas off of Roatan, Honduras. CORAL has been working to incorporate Cordelia as a marine protected area because of its rare staghorn reef community, valuable Caribbean reef shark population, and growing potential as a grouper and snapper spawning site.

Dr. Earle’s team was amazed and encouraged to see the expanse of healthy staghorn corals at Cordelia. On the last day of the expedition, Dr. Earle spoke to a local delegation and presented the findings of the trip. Her takeaway message was one of hope. She explained that while these ecosystems need our help, they are resilient. And, with the right protection, they can be saved. Dr. Earle and her team encouraged the public to join them in taking action to protect these “hope spots” by establishing marine protected areas that safeguard the Mesoamerican Reef.

For more information, see http://www.coral.org/files/pdf/newsletters/2011AutumnNewsletter.pdf

Breathtaking photo of staghorn corals in Cordelia Banks by Dano Pendygrasse; for more of his work, see http://www.danopendygrasse.com/Details/details/blog_files/Cordelia-banks-photos-roatan.php