Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel. 02/02/05; Quintana Roo; 11,987 ha; 20°16'N 087°02'W. National Park. The site covers the coral reefs off the southern coast of Cozumel island, one of the prime destinations for divers worldwide. Hard and soft corals, zoanthids, polychaets, actinarians, hydroids, sponges, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms and reef fish are very diverse, as well as algae and sea grasses. The park is habitat to numerous endangered species, such as the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green (Chelonia mydas) turtles, the Queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula) and the endemic Splendid Toadfish (Sanopus splendidus). Lobster, crab and pink conch Strombus gigas are comercially fished, populations of the latter having recovered following a prolonged fishing ban. Highly conspicuous fish are the Cat (Ginglymostoma cirratum), Tiger (Galeocerdo cuvieri) and Blacktip (Carcharinus limbatus) sharks, as well as the Southern stingray (Dasyatis americana). The reefs develop in underwater cliffs, whereas there are some coastal lagoons and sand bars at the tip of the island. On the shore, stands of Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle and coastal scrub are the main vegetation types. Over 1,500 divers visit the park every day, and there are concerns over the impacts of scuba diving, especially at night. Hotel development has contributed to a deterioration of water quality through their discharges. A management plan is in place since 1998 regulating diving, fishing, navigation, anchoring and other activities. Ramsar site no. 1449. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Quitana Roo