Utila lack of marine life

[alisondjones]

I spent a week in Utila (March) and was shocked by the lack of marine life on both the south and north sides of the island. I dived for 5 days, hoping critters would make themselves known. Literally went entire dives without spotting anything other than a few squirrelfish. One DM, a fairly recent arrival to Utila, said he, too, was surprised by the lack of marine life there. Research indicates that despite Utila's waters being part of a protected marine park, the locals fish there, and frequently. On my last morning, I was having breakfast at Neptune's when I witnessed two occupants of a small boat hop into the water, masks on, at the house reef. They spent a few minutes looking around underwater, then got back on the boat and left. I surmised they were scouting for fish to be caught. I can attest from snorkeling on the house reef, there were very few fish. I've dived for 25 years in many locales, and never seen such a beautiful, healthy reef with so little marine life. It was very sad.

 

[mar2112]

We had the opposite in experience St. Lucia a couple of weeks ago. There were more fish than we expected even in areas where, I don't know if it was legal, there was fishing.

 

[34109411]

I spent a week in Utila (March) and was shocked by the lack of marine life on both the south and north sides of the island. I dived for 5 days, hoping critters would make themselves known. Literally went entire dives without spotting anything other than a few squirrelfish. One DM, a fairly recent arrival to Utila, said he, too, was surprised by the lack of marine life there. Research indicates that despite Utila's waters being part of a protected marine park, the locals fish there, and frequently. On my last morning, I was having breakfast at Neptune's when I witnessed two occupants of a small boat hop into the water, masks on, at the house reef. They spent a few minutes looking around underwater, then got back on the boat and left. I surmised they were scouting for fish to be caught. I can attest from snorkeling on the house reef, there were very few fish. I've dived for 25 years in many locales, and never seen such a beautiful, healthy reef with so little marine life. It was very sad.

for the last 15 years the reef from cancun to utila along with the marine life is gone. Local will continue to fish either we like or not and this for there own survival. Mexico, Belize, Honduras a poor country. The tourism the hotel and the low wages doesn't allow the local to make a good
life out of it. The sea is like a grocery for them to feed there family.

Cheers

 

[laurenceh]

This is a video of us diving in Utila three weeks ago.
There certainly aren't the huge stocks of pelagic off in the blue that there were when we first visited 25 yrs ago but to say there are no fish seems like an exaggeration.

 

[Gdog]

This is a video of us diving in Utila three weeks ago.
There certainly aren't the huge stocks of pelagic off in the blue that there were when we first visited 25 yrs ago but to say there are no fish seems like an exaggeration.

Just got back from 6 weeks on Roatan. I agree with the fact that there are less fish life than there used to be, but tell me where that isnt the case anymore! While there were some dives with less fish, there were other dives when the water seemed teeming with life. I guess your mileage may vary..

 

[boulderjohn]

It is easy to point at something as the reason for an existing situation, but that is a fallacy. Yes, fishing may be a factor, but there are others. If you are missing pelagics, it may be more because the prey they need to eat is not there in sufficient numbers. That can be caused by the extreme degradation of the reef that sustains them. When the primary producers are gone, all the life that feeds on them will suffer.

I believe one of the biggest problems along what is often called the Mayan Riviera is pollution. The Yucatan peninsula is a rainforest, but it has no rivers. All that water flows through the maze of caves throughout the region. As resort after resort after resort is built, they create a massive amount of garbage that needs to be disposed. Common practice is what is done around the world--put it in a landfill. The problem should be obvious. The pollution in those landfills flows rapidly through the caves and into the sea, destroying the coral and other lifeforms that are the basis of sea life.

 

[tarponchik]

Can't testify for today's Utila (been there in 2009) but in general, yes, marine life in the Caribbean has been severely depleted. 90% (my estimate) of hard coral is dead and gradually replaced by sponges and gorgonians. The reefs do not look crowded with fish anymore and especially the big ones had become rare, falling victims of spearfishing. 2 weeks ago in Roatan I've witnessed how a marine police patrol boat intercepted poachers. The spear guns and the catch were confiscated but the men were not charged and let go, along with their boat.

 

[Gdog]

Can't testify for today's Utila (been there in 2009) but in general, yes, marine life in the Caribbean has been severely depleted. 90% (my estimate) of hard coral is dead and gradually replaced by sponges and gorgonians. The reefs do not look crowded with fish anymore and especially the big ones had become rare, falling victims of spearfishing. 2 weeks ago in Roatan I've witnessed how a marine police patrol boat intercepted poachers. The spear guns and the catch were confiscated but the men were not charged and let go, along with their boat.

Yes, and thats when they actually apprehend them. Was on Roatan 3 weeks ago. While heading out on the boat to and from dive sites, would see small local fishermen fishing inside the marine park. When I asked about it, I get the shoulder shrug, and " They wont do anything about it" answer. I think both answers above are part and parcel. The locals see the ocean as their food source. In addition, we continue to encroach with our resorts, adding sewer and pollution to the ocean. Dont know if there is a good workable solution. Ive said it several times...bettter get out and dive it while you can. It wont get better. I remember while diving out of Bocas Del Toro, Panama, I asked if we would see any turtles. The captain looked at me really oddly, and said "No. We ate them all." And he was serious.

 

[laurenceh]

And sadly in Utila, although much of the northside (turtle harbor, rock harbor etc) has been set aside as a marine preserve, there are no patrols. The island doesn't even have a conservation officer. Occasionally the navy will confiscate illegal fishing gear but that's rare.