Ecobreves – CUBA: Protecting Endemic Fish

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

HAVANA, Jan 27 2007 (IPS) - Children from the Zapata marsh area, one of the Caribbean islands' most important wetlands, are part of a campaign to protect the manjuarí, a fish native to Cuba that is in danger of extinction. On Jun. 5 the children will release in their natural habitat fish they have raised in their schools. The manjuarí (Atractosteus tristoechus) lives in the Zapata peninsula and in other southern areas of Cuba's western provinces, and on the Island of Youth.

Students at five primary schools, and several families from the region, have joined the “Adopt a Manjuarí” movement. After raising the fish in captivity, they are releasing them, environmental education expert Julio Haedo explained to Tierramérica.

The population of this species fell dramatically, due to threats like illegal fishing, the introduction of exotic species, a rise in predators, and a decline in food.