Dr. Robert Hueter, Director of Mote's Center for Shark Research, tags a shark in Cuba for identification.
Mote scientists furthering marine conservation at Cuba meetings
Oct 27, 2009Mote Marine Laboratory researchers are attending two international marine science meetings this week in Cuba, giving keynote talks and helping spearhead conservation efforts for the Gulf of Mexico.
Successful conservation depends on knowing where marine species go and what threats they face in waters between the United States, Mexico and Cuba, but scientists are only beginning - or preparing, in some cases - to study the sharks, fishes, sea turtles, dolphins and other marine species in Cuban waters, many of which migrate to the United States and Mexico. Joint studies between the Gulf nations are hindered by a 47-year trade embargo that severely restricts travel between the United States and Cuba.
In an effort to reach across the water, Mote scientists have visited Cuba over the past five years - with legal approval from the U.S. Department of Treasury - to plan and conduct conservation-oriented marine research. In September, Mote hosted four Cuban delegates on a rare U.S. visit. (Read about that visit at: www.mote.org/cubandelegation.)
Starting on Oct. 25 and concluding today, six Mote scientists and a marine policy expert are working with U.S., Mexican and Cuban delegates in a Havana workshop to set a five-year plan of action for joint marine research in the Gulf. Their discussions focus on fisheries, coral reefs, marine mammals, sea turtles and sharks, building on progress from earlier workshops co-organized by The Ocean Foundation, the Center for International Policy and the Harte Research Institute.
"International teamwork is what is needed for species conservation throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and meetings like these will help set the groundwork for that," said Mote President Dr. Kumar Mahadevan. "These workshops are leading to the creation of a five-year plan that will provide a crucial framework for how we will move forward with these efforts."
The international teamwork will continue in the Spring of 2010 with a similar meeting at Mote.
In addition to the workshop, Mote's leading shark and dolphin researchers will be keynote speakers at ColacMarCuba 2009, an international marine science conference taking place Oct. 26-30 in Havana that includes speakers from the United States, Latin America and Europe. The meeting is co-organized by the Latin American Association of Marine Sciences Investigators and the Cuban National Oceanographic Committee. Other Mote speakers and attendees include experts in fisheries enhancement, coastal ecology, sea turtles, corals and marine policy. Learn more at www.colacmarcuba2009.com.
Mote representatives at these meetings include:
- Dr. Robert Hueter, director, Mote Center for Shark Research
- Dr. Ernest Estevez, director, Mote Center for Coastal Ecology
- Dr. David Vaughan, director, Mote Center for Coral Reef Research
- Dr. Kenneth Leber, director, Mote Center for Fisheries Enhancement
- Dr. Randall Wells, manager, Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (a joint project between Mote and the Chicago Zoological Society)
- Dr. Tony Tucker, manager, Mote Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program
- Dr. Frank Alcock, director, the Marine Policy Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory. The institute's goal is to strengthen the connection between science and society. Dr. Alcock is also a professor at New College of Florida.
Media contact: Hayley Rutger, public relations specialist, at: 941-388-4441, ext. 365, 941-374-0081 or hrutger@mote.org
September story: Mote hosts Cuban scientists
Mote website
AZA Members: Submit your Zoo & Aquarium News