Haitian Waters

In the course of the year 1986, the French explorer and international researcher, Jacques Cousteau, visited Haiti, aboard his legendary boat named "Calypso", in order to reassess, reevaluate from several decades, our fishery resources.

The ecological disaster he found, led him to conclude, thru video evidence, that marine life is almost non-existant around our dark and sad waters, illustrating the catastrophe as "Waters of Sorrow".

Ironicaly and paradoxically endorsing, the following week, those of Cuba as "Waters of Destiny".

Coming from an eminent Professor, those terms and images deeply troubled the Haitian Government as well as the International Development Agencies and many International Financiers.

In fact, the potential investors, the developers, had nothing left to assist or to exploit but mid-fishing through migratory species and aquaculture in many aspects.

Was there any truth about the French Captain's revelation, compared by some to Captain Nemo and his Nautilus (Jules Verne)?

Indeed, the state of nutrients and animals poverty of our waters is partially due to sea motion : "depth, surface and directional currents, which are a horizontal movement of waters at multiple levels generated by waves, wind, temperature and salt density".

These large oceanographic currents travel great distance, from continent to continent, from country to country, creating positive impacts especially to aquatic fauna.

Concerning Haiti, and most of the Caribbean Islands, the marine current, originated from the Gulf of Mexico, flows to the Keys in the same direction of a watch needle, left to right, pursuing then south between the coasts of Bahamas and Cuba, doubling the northern seashores of Dominican Rep, going around Puerto Rico and up alongside the southeast coastlines of the island of Hispaniola, to finally loop the loop near Jamaica island.

After dispersing all the potential substance that it initially owned, consequently losing its abundance in plankton and nutrients along the way, the water then becomes so poor when, unfortunately, it reaches our southern coasts and the Gonave Gulf". 

Interrupting then the food chain supply in regard of marine life in our ecosystem.

On the other hand, let's take into account the obvious erosion of the soil that our rivers carry to the ocean.

The spilling of so many harmful materials from the mountains onto our beaches makes aquatic life very difficult to be evaluated positively.

At the end, the canyons, the streams, the rivers and waterways are saturating, during the rainy season, the continental shelf with muddy water, causing "sad and dark waters" as it was found and mentioned by the french Icon, in 1986.

Once again, aquaculture must be the main perspective and alternative when it comes to the future of the country aquatic sector. 

Certainly, to all who believe and dream about the future of Haïti!

Pressoir  M Antoine

Boynton Beach, FL

10/09/17