Bull Mar Sci. 94(2):423–442. 2018 research paper https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2016.1129 Marine protected areas in Cuba 1 Centro Nacional de Áreas Susana Perera Valderrama 1, 2 * Protegidas, 18A No. 4114, 1 Miramar, Playa, Havana, Cuba Aylem Hernández Ávila 11300. Juliett González Méndez 1 1 2 Current address: Comisión Orestes Moreno Martínez Nacional para el Conocimiento y Dorka Cobián Rojas 3 Uso de la Biodiversidad, Av. Liga 1 Periférico-Insurgentes Sur 4903, Hakna Ferro Azcona Parques del Pedregal, 14010 Elvis Milián Hernández 1 Mexico City, Mexico. Hansel Caballero Aragón 4 3 Parque Nacional Pedro M Alcolado 5 Guanahacabibes, La Bajada, 6 Sandino, Pinar del Río, Cuba Fabián Pina-Amargós 24150. Zaimiuri Hernández González 7 4 Acuario Nacional de Cuba, 3ra Leonardo Espinosa Pantoja 7 y 62, Miramar, Playa, Havana, Lázaro Francisco Rodríguez Farrat 1 Cuba 11300. 5 Instituto de Oceanología 186 No. 18406, Miramar, Playa. Havana, Cuba 11300. 6 Centro de Investigaciones de ABSTRACT.—Cuba has recognized that conservation Ecosistemas Costeros, Cayo and sustainable use of marine biodiversity is a priority. One Coco, Morón, Ciego de Avila, of the main strategies it has developed is the creation of the Cuba 67210. National System of Protected Areas (Sistema Nacional de 7 Parque Nacional Cayos de San Áreas Protegidas, or SNAP), which includes an important Felipe, La Coloma, Pinar del Río, marine component. Here, we present the current status of the Cuba 20100. Cuban marine protected areas (MPAs) and their challenges * Corresponding author email: and prognoses. To date, 105 MPAs have been proposed; they <[email protected]>. cover 25% of the Cuban insular shelf. Of these, 57 have been legally incorporated into the system and 13 more are being managed to its standards, a total of 70 have some degree of implementation. About 30% of the Cuban coral reefs, 24% of the seagrass beds, and 35% of mangroves are legally protected by SNAP. The main challenges are insufficient financing and the difficulty of reinvesting profits generated k within these areas. Prohibited fishing practices and capture Marine Ecology and Conservation of protected species are the principle issues that affect MPAs. in Cuba The priorities for the immediate future are to assess the value of ecosystem services, strengthen connections with fishing Guest Editors: Joe Roman, Patricia González-Díaz communities, and achieve greater integration with other sectors to guarantee the proper management of tourism Date Submitted: 6 March, 2017. and fisheries in and near MPAs for the benefit of sustainable Date Accepted: 14 August, 2017. development. Available Online: 3 October, 2017. Bulletin of Marine Science 423 © 2018 Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami 424 Bulletin of Marine Science. Vol 94, No 2. 2018 Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the primary tools for conserving ma- rine biodiversity and using it sustainably (Edgar et al. 2007, Charles et al. 2016). Case studies suggest that these areas can be used to manage fisheries (Pina Amargós et al. 2014, Yamazaki et al. 2015) and maintain coral cover (Selig and Bruno 2010, Howarth et al. 2015). Some scientists also emphasize that the environmental services provided by coastal marine ecosystems are positively affected by MPAs (Potts et al. 2014, Leenhardt et al. 2015). At the same time, these areas can provide reference sites to evaluate threats to biodiversity, and they can improve engagement and education of local communities (Lundquist and Granek 2005). The importance of creating MPAs and including them in systems of protected areas has been recognized throughout the world. By 1970, 118 MPAs had been es- tablished in 27 nations (Kelleher and Kenchington 1992). According to the Marine Conservation Institute (2016), at present more than 13,600 MPAs have been desig- nated globally, with over 500 in the Caribbean. However, despite increasing num- bers, MPAs represent <3% of the world’s marine area (Marine Conservation Institute 2016). Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean Sea, has the highest marine biodiversity in the region (Miloslavich et al. 2010). Coral reefs surround 95% of its insular shelf (Hernández-Zanuy and Alcolado 2010). Its long coastline contributes to the connec- tivity of marine populations in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Paris et al. 2005). Nevertheless, as throughout the Caribbean region, Cuban marine biodiversity is seriously threatened (Creary et al. 2008). The Cuban government has recognized conservation and sustainable use of its natural resources as a priority (González- Díaz 2015). One of the main strategies developed to guarantee their preservation was the creation of a National System of Protected Areas (SNAP; Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Cuba in Spanish) with an important marine component (National Center of Protected Areas, CNAP 2013). Here, we present the history, current status, challenges, and projections for the future of Cuban MPAs. We have compiled this information from documents that relate to implementation of the SNAP. Most of the data have been extracted from SNAP plans that have already been completed (CNAP 2002, 2009) or are undergoing implementation (CNAP 2013). Reports and publications from projects undertaken by the CNAP and other institutions have also been reviewed. History of Cuban MPAs The first proposals for protected areas date from 1968 and 1973; they were pre- pared by Kenton Miller, an FAO consultant (Miller 1984), and researchers of the Botanical Institute and the Flora and Fauna Commission of the Cuban Academy of Sciences. These proposals focused mainly on terrestrial environments, although mangroves, lagoons, and some other coastal ecosystems were included. The First National Protected Areas Workshop was conducted in 1989; it had a multi-organizational approach involving experts from several national and provin- cial institutions. The opening discussions on the topic of MPAs took place during this meeting, although terrestrial and coastal components were the main focus of the proposals (Estrada et al. 2004). In the Second National Protected Areas Workshop, held in 1995, 535 proposed areas were analyzed, and MPAs were formally recognized Perera Valderrama et al.: Cuban MPAs 425 (CNAP 2002). Many of the areas included in the current SNAP date from this meet- ing (CNAP 2013). The Institute of Oceanology (now called “ICIMAR”) provided con- siderable information on marine species and ecosystems and proposed 18 marine reserves (including no-take zones) to ensure the sustainable management of Cuban fishery resources (Instituto de Oceanología 1995). Currently, 15 of these areas are included in the SNAP (CNAP 2013). At that time, the Ministry of the Fishing Industry also began the process of declar- ing “Zones” under Special Regimes of Use and Protection. The proposed sites were Jardines de la Reina, Punta Francés, Ciénaga de Zapata, and Cayo Largo, areas that would later mostly overlap with MPAs (Estrada et al. 2004). After the 1995 work- shop, the limited representation of marine areas in the SNAP was acknowledged. To address this problem, the recently created National Center for Protected Areas (Centro Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, or CNAP) initiated a marine planning process that continued in the Third National Protected Areas Workshop (1998). Most of the marine areas of SNAP were included in this last planning phase (Estrada et al. 2004). At present, eight national and international courses for MPA managers on plan- ning and management of MPAs have taken place in Cuba (CNAP 2013). In addition, three planning sessions to update SNAP have been held every 5 yrs, including three gap analyses. These planning processes have largely validated the existing MPAs and the new proposals, and they have demonstrated the importance of using eco- regional planning, geographic information systems, remote sensing, digital cartog- raphy, and decision-support systems in the design and management of Cuban MPAs (CNAP 2013). Current Status of Cuban MPAs Cuba has proposed 211 conservation areas for protection, including 105 MPAs (Fig. 1) (CNAP 2013). Fifty-seven of the proposed areas have been approved, and seven are currently in the approval process. Figure 2 shows the evolution of MPAs in terms of official approval and the area (in hectares) they cover. Approved MPAs protect >2.5 million hectares of marine and coastal territories in the 15 provinces of Cuba and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud. Individual MPAs and their locations can be found at online (available at http://www.snap.cu/index.php/ct-menu-item-15). The proposed system of protected areas covers 25% of the Cuban insular shelf, with 19 percent of this marine area approved to date. About 30% of Cuban coral reefs, 24% of seagrass beds, and 35% of mangroves are protected in the SNAP (CNAP 2013). Of the 21 spawning sites of commercially important fish species identified by Claro and Lindeman (2003), 13 (62%) have protected area status. Cuba defines an MPA as a marine or coastal portion of the national territory of outstanding natural value devoted to the protection and maintenance of biodiver- sity, natural resources, and cultural values associated with the natural environment (CNAP 2013). These areas include marine ecosystems or a combination of marine and coastal ecosystems. Cuban MPAs have been chosen for their high conserva- tion value and the presence of important marine species such as snappers, groupers, sharks (see Box 1), spiny lobsters, mangroves, marine turtles, and corals, inlcuding the genera Acropora spp., Orbicella spp., and Agaricia spp. They have also been cho- sen because they are adjacent to terrestrial natural areas and would contribute to the regional protection of terrestrial and marine resources. 426 Bulletin of Marine Science. Vol 94, No 2. 2018 Figure Cuban 1. marine protected Included areas are the (MPAs). all of the eight of management MPAs categories, but only the names the of marine national parks are presented. Perera Valderrama et al.: Cuban MPAs 427 Figure 2.