Talk:Cuban cactus scrub

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See pictures of the flora and fauna of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, off its shores and on the land at http://users4.ev1.net/~mevansyfib [1]

These are not labled as of yet but are a nice survey of the natural environment there.

I take issue with the statement in the article stating that there are no reefs or shallows. Some of the most pristine coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea are located off the naval base. Though that does not mean entirely untouched. For better or worse (for worse actually) spear fishing does occur in the reefs off the coast and at the mouth of the bay as mentioned in the article (hook and line fishing is only allowed within the bay). If fishing is considered only mediocre at the naval base that is because of fishing pressure over time. The bay is an excellent nursery habitat and has the potential to bring in large oceanic and coastal fish for breeding as well as support large sized local resident species. The bay itself has extensive seagrass beds (some of which have been degraded in the industrial area) and mangrove habitat (which have been under environmental stress in some areas though it is not known exactly why). Effluent from Cuban side up river and up the bay also affect the bay environment at the naval base. A chiken rendering plant in Cuba on the river used to bring up many bull sharks to feed on carcases and chicken pieces. The seagrass beds also support a fair sized population of queen conch (possibly one of the last "healthy" populations left in the Caribbean though that may last long if still at all). Harvest of Queen Conch, which have dwindled in the Carbbean due to habitat degradation and loss as well as over harvesting, at the naval station may not be sustainable. The nature Conservancy performed a terrestrial survey cataloging the plant and wildlife of the naval station (there should be a publication out there somewhere) and I have a copy of a seagrass and coral reef survey I participated in, in 2003.

I hope this has been found to be helpful.

Best Regards.

David Evans

Feel free to edit these articles if you see incorrect statements. Are you willing to upload and release to the public domain some of your photos for this article? --MarsRover 03:44, 23 August 2006 (UTC)