Florida and Cuba aquariums forge a partnership to protect and restore the Caribbean’s coral ecosystems, setting an example for other aquariums to follow
By Alice Davis | Published in Attractions Management 2015 issue 4
The Florida Aquarium and the National Aquarium of Cuba both work to protect coral, sea turtles and sharks
In August, the Florida Aquarium entered a bilateral agreement with Cuba’s National Aquarium in Havana, forming a mutually beneficial partnership aimed at working together on marine issues. Efforts to protect and preserve coral reefs were made a priority in the collaboration.
With less than 250 miles (400km) separating the two attractions, the Florida Aquarium believes studying Cuba’s underwater ecosystem – where the reefs are in far better condition – will help with the coral restoration process in the Florida Keys archipelago. In return, the Tampa Bay aquarium will share with the National Aquarium of Cuba (NAC) what it has learned about restoring coral reefs and growing coral in a controlled setting.
The aquariums agreed the partnership in 2014, deciding to keep a simple focus on education, research and conservation.
“It’s an opportunity to work with an aquarium that shares the exact same environment,” says Margo McKnight, vice president of biological operations at the Florida Aquarium. “Cuba has done a really great job protecting its reefs and that’s what we’re most interested in – Cuba’s ecosystems are in much better shape, whereas we are trying to restore ours.
“Observing Cuba’s reefs and collecting data on the biodiversity present on these healthy reefs will help us recreate the reefs in the Florida Keys. It’s like rolling back time – a snapshot of what our reefs likely looked like,” says McKnight.
The Florida Aquarium works with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), as well as other groups, planting fast-growing staghorn coral in the Keys. Monitoring the species and ecosystem in Cuba – which is famed for its Jardines de la Reina (Garden of the Queens) National Park in the southern waters off the provinces of Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila – will help the Florida mission focus its efforts to rebuild a productive and healthy reef.
“The Florida Aquarium is taking an active and progressive position on protecting and restoring coral reefs,” says Ken Nedimyer, founder and president of the CRF. “They are involved in some progressive research aimed at finding actionable solutions to some of the key problems on coral reefs.”
“Cuba has been exposed to the same big problems and events that have degraded most of the rest of the Caribbean – sea urchin loss, overfishing, coral diseases and bleaching, inadequate sewage treatment, poor storm water management, agricultural run-off and hurricanes – so I think the Florida Aquarium can bring the right balance of research, solutions and action to some of the problems facing Cuba’s coral reef ecosystems,” says Nedimyer.
With Cuba and the US making historic moves to normalise their relationship, more and more people are going to be visiting the island nation. Conservationists are pressing for responsible tourism that won’t have a negative impact on Cuba’s ecosystems. Aquariums can provide programmes directed at educating visitors about this – and even encouraging them to play a part.
Fernando Bretos, director for Cuba marine research and conservation at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida, has been working with the NAC for over 10 years on coral reef and sea turtle conservation.
“Through exhibits and outreach programs, aquariums can introduce the public to the benefits of coral restoration,” Bretos says. “They also stand in a unique position to empower their constituents to get involved in coral restoration as citizen scientists. For all its value for restoring underwater ecosystems, coral restoration is limited by the number of volunteer divers that get involved in planting corals. In other words, the more volunteers involved, the more coral can be restored.”
The science of coral restoration has seen success in Florida, and by working in partnership the two aquariums will be able to share more information and cover more ground. With an influx of American tourists on the horizon, McKnight is optimistic that Cuba will be able to learn from environmental mistakes made elsewhere in the world, “rolling back time, but knowing what we know now. They can learn lessons that we are now having to fix.”
For Nedimyer, if attractions want to aid conservation efforts, it’s vital they select the right issues to focus on. Often that will be something in the local area, and if efforts directly benefit the local community, then fundraising will be easier.
“Most public aquariums have very active conservation programmes and are making a difference in the areas they have decided to focus on,” says Nedimyer. “They can’t do everything, so they must focus on an area that is strategic for them, their clientele and their donor base. The Florida Aquarium has chosen to focus on reefs and it makes sense based on their geographic location. I think they’ll be a key player in developing a public awareness programme in Cuba for coral reef protection and restoration.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2015 issue 4
Attractions: Gone, Not Forgotten
We find out what people thought of
Dismaland, Banksy’s twisted theme park
and contemporary art attraction – and
talk to one of the Dismal Stewards
Promotional feature: IdeAttack
Mysteries of China’s rich culture are at the heart of IDEATTACK’s new mixed-used tourism destination
Zoos & Aquariums: Turn over a New Reef
The Florida Aquarium is teaming
up with the National Aquarium of
Cuba in a bid to save and restore
the region’s precious coral reefs
Florida and Cuba aquariums forge a partnership to protect and restore the Caribbean’s coral ecosystems, setting an example for other aquariums to follow
By Alice Davis | Published in Attractions Management 2015 issue 4
The Florida Aquarium and the National Aquarium of Cuba both work to protect coral, sea turtles and sharks
In August, the Florida Aquarium entered a bilateral agreement with Cuba’s National Aquarium in Havana, forming a mutually beneficial partnership aimed at working together on marine issues. Efforts to protect and preserve coral reefs were made a priority in the collaboration.
With less than 250 miles (400km) separating the two attractions, the Florida Aquarium believes studying Cuba’s underwater ecosystem – where the reefs are in far better condition – will help with the coral restoration process in the Florida Keys archipelago. In return, the Tampa Bay aquarium will share with the National Aquarium of Cuba (NAC) what it has learned about restoring coral reefs and growing coral in a controlled setting.
The aquariums agreed the partnership in 2014, deciding to keep a simple focus on education, research and conservation.
“It’s an opportunity to work with an aquarium that shares the exact same environment,” says Margo McKnight, vice president of biological operations at the Florida Aquarium. “Cuba has done a really great job protecting its reefs and that’s what we’re most interested in – Cuba’s ecosystems are in much better shape, whereas we are trying to restore ours.
“Observing Cuba’s reefs and collecting data on the biodiversity present on these healthy reefs will help us recreate the reefs in the Florida Keys. It’s like rolling back time – a snapshot of what our reefs likely looked like,” says McKnight.
The Florida Aquarium works with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), as well as other groups, planting fast-growing staghorn coral in the Keys. Monitoring the species and ecosystem in Cuba – which is famed for its Jardines de la Reina (Garden of the Queens) National Park in the southern waters off the provinces of Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila – will help the Florida mission focus its efforts to rebuild a productive and healthy reef.
“The Florida Aquarium is taking an active and progressive position on protecting and restoring coral reefs,” says Ken Nedimyer, founder and president of the CRF. “They are involved in some progressive research aimed at finding actionable solutions to some of the key problems on coral reefs.”
“Cuba has been exposed to the same big problems and events that have degraded most of the rest of the Caribbean – sea urchin loss, overfishing, coral diseases and bleaching, inadequate sewage treatment, poor storm water management, agricultural run-off and hurricanes – so I think the Florida Aquarium can bring the right balance of research, solutions and action to some of the problems facing Cuba’s coral reef ecosystems,” says Nedimyer.
With Cuba and the US making historic moves to normalise their relationship, more and more people are going to be visiting the island nation. Conservationists are pressing for responsible tourism that won’t have a negative impact on Cuba’s ecosystems. Aquariums can provide programmes directed at educating visitors about this – and even encouraging them to play a part.
Fernando Bretos, director for Cuba marine research and conservation at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida, has been working with the NAC for over 10 years on coral reef and sea turtle conservation.
“Through exhibits and outreach programs, aquariums can introduce the public to the benefits of coral restoration,” Bretos says. “They also stand in a unique position to empower their constituents to get involved in coral restoration as citizen scientists. For all its value for restoring underwater ecosystems, coral restoration is limited by the number of volunteer divers that get involved in planting corals. In other words, the more volunteers involved, the more coral can be restored.”
The science of coral restoration has seen success in Florida, and by working in partnership the two aquariums will be able to share more information and cover more ground. With an influx of American tourists on the horizon, McKnight is optimistic that Cuba will be able to learn from environmental mistakes made elsewhere in the world, “rolling back time, but knowing what we know now. They can learn lessons that we are now having to fix.”
For Nedimyer, if attractions want to aid conservation efforts, it’s vital they select the right issues to focus on. Often that will be something in the local area, and if efforts directly benefit the local community, then fundraising will be easier.
“Most public aquariums have very active conservation programmes and are making a difference in the areas they have decided to focus on,” says Nedimyer. “They can’t do everything, so they must focus on an area that is strategic for them, their clientele and their donor base. The Florida Aquarium has chosen to focus on reefs and it makes sense based on their geographic location. I think they’ll be a key player in developing a public awareness programme in Cuba for coral reef protection and restoration.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2015 issue 4
Attractions: Gone, Not Forgotten
We find out what people thought of
Dismaland, Banksy’s twisted theme park
and contemporary art attraction – and
talk to one of the Dismal Stewards
Promotional feature: IdeAttack
Mysteries of China’s rich culture are at the heart of IDEATTACK’s new mixed-used tourism destination
Zoos & Aquariums: Turn over a New Reef
The Florida Aquarium is teaming
up with the National Aquarium of
Cuba in a bid to save and restore
the region’s precious coral reefs
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
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