Despite having some of the world’s best-preserved marine ecosystems, Cuba has seen some of its key commercial fish stocks come close to depletion due to certain loopholes in its environmental laws,
Now the Caribbean island is determined to change that by introducing a new law aiming to curb illegal fishing, recover fish populations and protect small-scale fisheries. The island nation plans to overhaul its previous environmental legislation, which didn’t cover the private sector, putting nearly 80 percent of the country’s marine resources in critical condition.
While ensuring a future for its fishers, the sweeping reforms also represent a significant step in international efforts to preserve some of the world’s most important coral reefs, sharks, rays and other marine life.
