He oversees the Trinational Initiative for Marine Research and Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean a multinational effort to study coastal and marine resources shared by the three nations of the Gulf of Mexico: Cuba, Mexico and the United States. Supporting Cocodrilo’s annual sea turtle festivalįernando has worked in the Caribbean region over three decades on a wide variety of marine conservation projects.Studying the migration routes, foraging grounds, and bycatch rates of sea turtles in Cuban waters.Involving Cuban fishers in sea turtle research and conservation efforts.Promoting science diplomacy between the U.S., Cuba, and Mexico as part of the Trinational Initiative for Marine Science and Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean ( ).Studying coral core geochemistry to track historical land-use inputs and reconstruct climate variability in Cuban coral reefs.Determining the impacts of the invasive lionfish in the western Caribbean.Studying benthic connectivity between Cuba’s three largest gulfs (Golfo de Batabanó, Golfo de Ana María, and Golfo de Guanahacabibes) to gather a large-scale, comprehensive ecological picture of the region.Monitoring the sea turtle nesting beaches of Guanahacabibes National Park.Daria Siciliano (Scientist) and Katie Thompson (Coordinator). CubaMar is a three-person team made up of Fernando Bretos (Director), Dr. They collaborate closely with Cuban partners to conduct scientific research that advances and informs conservation policy efforts in Cuba and the Wider Caribbean. About CubaMarĬubaMar has worked in Cuba since 1998 to study and protect shared marine resources between Cuba and the United States. For the first time, Cocodrilo youth will get an intimate look at how they can interact with their local marine environment and at the same time be able to contribute to its protection in a meaningful way. The film will capture the stories of Cocodrilo youth as they reflect on their connection to the ocean, and to the future of their local reefs and community. The goal of Cocodrilo’s citizen science initiative is not only to protect Cocodrilo’s marine environments, but to also provide the youth of Cocodrilo with an alternative to fishing, which is the most common livelihood for local residents. Youth are learning to assist in this project that involves protecting Cocodrilo’s local coral reef. Cocodrilo is an isolated fishing town of 300 residents, which, like all of Cuba, is facing rapid change.Ĭocodrilo is unique in Cuba in that its community members are developing a community-based marine conservation citizen science initiative. The film will focus on the isolated fishing community of Cocodrilo on Cuba’s Isla de la Juventud, or Isle of Youth. Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program (CubaMar), a project of The Ocean Foundation, will partner with For The Sea Productions and Cuban filmmakers to create a original film that celebrates a remote Cuban coastal community’s relation with the ocean, provides hands-on marine conservation experience to young Cubans, and situates Cuba in broader conversations about coastal habitat protection efforts.