Portland Bight Protected Area

Coordinates: 17°41′38″N 77°06′43″W / 17.694°N 77.112°W / 17.694; -77.112
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Portland Bight Protected Area
Map showing the location of Portland Bight Protected Area
Map showing the location of Portland Bight Protected Area
Map of Jamaica
LocationJamaica
Coordinates17°41′38″N 77°06′43″W / 17.694°N 77.112°W / 17.694; -77.112[1]
Area724 sq mi (1,880 km2)
Established1999

The Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA) was created by the Jamaican government in 1999 to protect a large marine and terrestrial area on the island of

sea-grass beds that serve as a nursery for fish and shellfish breeding. The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) has been charged with managing zones within the protected area.[3][4]

On land there are 81 square miles (210 km2) of dry limestone forests, 60 known caves,[5] and it includes a population of 50,000. Part of the task in forming the PBPA going forward is to find a balance between protecting the ecosystem from destruction by economic development and allowing the human inhabitants a means to live and work.[6]

As of August 29, 2013, the PNP Government of Jamaica is proposing to develop the Goat Islands, in the PBPA, as a transhipment hub in conjunction with the Chinese government. Environmentalists argue that this will have a severe impact on the entire protected area.[7][8]

As of September 23, 2016, the current Prime Minister, Andrew Holness of the JLP, has stated that the Goat Islands are no longer being considered as a base for a transhipment hub.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Portland Bight Protected Area". protectedplanet.net.
  2. ^ Linton; et al. "Preliminary Report of Coral Reef Monitoring of the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA)" (PDF). PDF. Centre for Marine Sciences University of the West Indies. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  3. ^ "CSI Activities (Portland Bight, Jamaica)". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  4. ^ "Secology Island Projects". Seacology. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  5. ^ Stewart, RS. "The Caves of Portland Bight, Jamaica (C-CAM Report)" (PDF). PDF. Jamaican Caves Organisation. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ^ Serju, Christopher (May 19, 2012). "Stakeholders aim to preserve the Portland Bight Protected Area". The Gleaner. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  7. ^ JET; et al. (August 29, 2013). "Press Release - Portland Bight Protected Area". Jamaican Caves Organisation. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  8. ^ Jamaica Observer (September 1, 2013). "Officials insist Goat Islands must be protected". Jamaica Observer - JCO Mirror. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. ^ Jamaica Gleaner. "Transshipment project under consideration, but not for Goat Islands – PM". Jamaica Gleaner - September 23, 2016.

External links