Variability and sustainability of the Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem

• Published in: Environmental development 2017-06, Vol.22, p.30-41
• Main Authors: Villamizar G., Estrella Y., Cervigón, Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coral reefs; Fishing production; Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea LME; Upwelling; Venezuela
• ISSN: 2211-4645; 2211-4653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2017.02.005

The Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem encompasses most of the continental and island coasts of Venezuela, as well as Trinidad, Tobago, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and the northeastern continental coast of Colombia in the Caribbean. The subarea is the only area of the Caribbean Sea LME (CSLME) with an important upwelling process that determines its very high productivity, especially in the eastern region of Venezuela. It generates a big impact over the ecological conditions of the rest of the Caribbean Sea LME, mainly over the biological productivity. However, extreme changes of climatic conditions have weakened upwelling in several years during the last two decades, with severe consequences in the total fish production of Venezuela and the Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem. The crisis of the sardine in Venezuela is perhaps the clearest example of it. Another contribution of the Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea LME is the high biodiversity of marine fauna and flora that appears in numerous coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangroves in the region. Unfortunately, several factors threaten the health and population sizes of some taxonomic groups. The corals are among the most affected, with losses of significant live coral coverage at all the reefs of the Southern Subarea, similar to the rest of the Caribbean region. Even when the governance of the Southern Subarea of the Caribbean Sea LME has many environmental laws and institutions that are charged with applying these laws, the latter are not appropriately enforced. If this situation does not change, the sustainability of the Southern Subarea will be at risk. •The Southern Subarea of the CSLME is the only area with an important upwelling.•The Southern Subarea of the CSLME, particularly the eastern region of Venezuela, generates a big impact over the biological productivity of the rest of the Caribbean.•Global Climatic Change is a determinant external driver over the productivity and biodiversity of the Southern Subarea of the CSLME.•Coral reefs of islands and continental coasts in the countries of the Southern Subarea of the CSLME have a similar trend from the rest of the region reefs, a remarkable decrease of live coral cover.