SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Before 1997, only a few researches at the level of communities and ecosystems had been done at Jardines de la Reina.
Around 1940, an expedition by American scientists was organized but its data have not been available.
After the Revolution, in 1980, the province of Camaguey studied the terrestrial ecosystems of the eastern sector of the archipelago, while the Coastal Ecosystems Research Center (CIEC) based in Cayo Coco, Cuba, leading a national project, surveyed the terrestrial flora and fauna of the western portion. These studied yielded basic information for further and more specific research. However the marine communities and ecosystems have been the least studied.
During the 1980s and the 1990s, the Institute of Oceanology prepared some expeditions to make biological collections and point studies of fish and coral reefs.
After the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), requested by AZULMAR and carried out by the researchers of the Coastal Ecosystems Research Center (CIEC) in 2000, the idea of characterizing the marine ecosystems of Jardines de la Reina sprang up. This project has been an excellent example of cooperation between those who obtain revenues from tourism and those who do scientific research to protect nature, united under the common interest of the preservation of the environment. This project which must be completed by the end of 2002, will be continued on other which main aim will be the research of the benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These MPAs have theoretical support but are in need of practical evidences to be extended as a tool for the conservation of marine ecosystems.

TAGGING PROGRAM
In the field of scientific research in the area, one of the latest methods put into practice is the tagging of fish . The objective of this activity is to determine the existence of export of adult fish from a Marine Protected Area to adjacent areas, which in spite of the theoretical support, lacks consistent practical evidences.
The target species are bonefish and tarpon (important for both commercial and sports fishing), mutton snapper and school master (important for both commercial and sports fishing), groupers (important for diving activities and commercial fishing) , and the silky shark (important for diving activities).

The tagging of bonefish and tarpon is carried out by the fishing guides of AZULMAR and also by fishermen who visit the area, thus participating in the project. Up to now, some 400 bonefish, 50 tarpons, 80 groupers, 170 mutton snappers and 50 silky sharks have been tagged. This is approximately 15 % of the number to be tagged in the next few years, that is why, the recapture per cent is still low. From 2002 on, tags with different colors will be introduced so that recaptures will be not only with fishing gears, but also visual. If you visit Jardines de la Reina, inquire about the tagging program and take part in it.