October 18, 2010: After 50 years without formal diplomatic relations and no end to the last vestiges of the Cold War in sight, marine scientists and conservationists have taken matters into their own hands to form the Trinational Initiative for Marine Science and Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean, a unique partnership of Cuba, Mexico and the United States that is working past political barriers to make a difference for the waters we share and forging new friendships along the way. The Trinational Initiative recently held its fourth meeting in Sarasota, Florida and after nearly a decade of the Administration denying visas, more than 20 Cubans received their visas and participated in the meeting. The Ocean Doctor leads the meeting and shares its successes.

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This Week: Cuba, Mexico & the U.S. Together on the Gulf

On 1-2 November 2007, a group of 15 Cubans and 15 Americans met in Cancún, México in a historic meeting co-organized and led by the Washington, DC-based Center for International Policy and 1planet1ocean — a project of The Ocean Foundation, in order to take joint marine research and conservation activities between the U.S. and Cuba to a new level, with a goal of establishing a framework for collaboration between Cuba, México and the United States for ongoing joint scientific research and to develop a regional plan of action designed to preserve and protect our surrounding and shared waters and marine habitats.

Because of the decades-old U.S. economic embargo of Cuba, collaboration between U.S. and Cuban scientists has been difficult. Even though research is a permitted activity and U.S. scientists are allowed to travel to Cuba, the harsh logistical and political realities have prevented all but a few U.S. institutions from successful collaborative projects in Cuba. Recognizing the critical need for more scientific research in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean – and the key role that Cuban waters play in the ecosystem – the Cancún meeting brought together major institutions from both countries to establish research priorities and chart a way forward toward stronger and more comprehensive collaborative activities.

The Trinational Initiative at its Fourth Meeting at Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida USA

Cuba and the U.S. have enjoyed a long history and tradition of scientific collaboration, dating back to the 1800s. This tradition continues today, despite the challenges, but scientists from both countries recognize that there is a need to step up collaborative activities in order to more effectively address the growing research and

conservation needs of the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean. It has become especially important to study these areas with a regional perspective in order to understand biological linkages and inform sound conservation policies at a regional level.

The meeting established the framework for a plan of action by recognizing the following six priorities:

• Research and conservation of coral reefs
• Research and conservation of sharks
• Research and conservation of sea turtles
• Research and conservation of marine mammals
• Research, conservation and management of fish resources
• Strengthening and extending the system of protected areas

Following the Cancún meeting, México was included as a full partner, making the Initiative truly trinational in scope. Subsequent meetings held in Veracruz, México (March 2009), Havana, Cuba (October 2009) and Sarasota, Florida USA (September 2010) have resulted in the creation of a Trinational Plan of Action — due to be finalized in the Fall of 2010. The Plan will serve as a blueprint for trinational collaboration over the coming years and has already resulted in unprecedented levels of collaboration.

Trinational Initiative Logo

The blue, tri-wave logo symbolizes the work and collaboration of the Trinational Initiative:

• The blue waves symbolize our work of research and conservation in the sea.
• There are three waves, one representing each country in the Trinational Initiative.
• The three waves are equally-sized, symbolizing that all partners are equal.
• The three waves in perfect sync, symbolizing the unity in our collaboration together.

Links

For more information about the Trinational Initiative for Marine Research & Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico & Western Caribbean, visit: TrinationalInitiative.org

The latest information and publications from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling: oilspillcommission.gov

Tip of the Week

It’s the “Who’s Who” of the Gulf of Mexico. Visit Gulfbase.org, a project of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Visit: GulfBase.org

Cubans and Americans display the flags of both nations following a historic 2-day meeting in Cancún, México on collaboration in marine science & conservation

CANCÚN, México — In a historic meeting co-organized and led by the Washington, DC-based Center for International Policy and the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,a group of 15 Cubans and 15 Americans met in Cancún, Mexico to develop a plan for taking joint marine research and conservation activities between the U.S. and Cuba to a new level. Collaboration between U.S. and Cuban scientists has been exceedingly difficult because of the decades-old U.S. embargo, even though research is a permitted activity and U.S. scientists are allowed to travel to Cuba. Complicated logistics and ever-changing politics have prevented all but a few U.S. institutions from successful collaborative projects in Cuba.

1planet1ocean president Dr. David E. Guggenheim, HRI Advisory Council member and manager of its Cuba Program, organized and led the November 1-2 meeting along with Dr. Wayne Smith of the Center for International Policy. The conference was conceived of in recognition of the critical need for more scientific research in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean, and the key role that Cuban waters play in the ecosystem. The Cancún meeting brought together major institutions from both countries to establish research priorities and to chart a way forward toward stronger and more comprehensive collaborative activities.

At the end of the two-day meeting, a framework plan of action was established with the following priorities: Research and conservation of coral reefs, sharks, sea turtles and dolphins, improved management and conservation of fish resources, and strengthening of marine protected areas. The proceedings of the meeting are currently being drafted. Working groups — each headed by one Cuban and one American — are leading continuing dialogue on each of the priority areas. A follow-up meeting is scheduled in 6-12 months and will include the participation of México. Over the past few years, HRI and its partner, University of Havana’s Centro de Investigaciones Marinas (Center for Marine Research), have conducted a number of research expeditions and related research efforts along Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico, the 320 km expanse along its northwest coast, in a project called Proyecto Costa Noroccidental (Project of the Northwest Coast).