First impressions prove wrong: Hurricane Dean damages Mesoamerican Reef System

Though initial reports minimized damage to the Mesoamerican Reef System more thorough assessments indicate major damage, especially to Banco Chinchorro.

From a story by Guadalupe Martinez in Novedades:

The Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro was severly affected by Hurricane Dean. The exact damage is not known because diving is still not possible in the area. WWF Mexico will be working with Maria del Carmen García Rivas, the CONANP (National Protected Areas Commission) Reserve director to begin a detailed evaluation.

Amigos de Sian Ka’an began an evaluation of damage to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Gonzalo Merediz, the organization’s director, flew over the reserve and commented on the damage, noting that the Punta Herrero fishermens’ colony basically disappeared. The jungles were severly damaged, from Limones towards the south. The main concern is the damage to the reefs in the region due to the sedimentation of all the sand that was churned up.

Paul Sanchez-Navarro, executive director of Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA), reported: "CEA, with support of the Akumal Dive Shop, is doing a preliminary assessment of the reefs off Akumal. We appreciate the help from the dive shop and will report our findings as soon as possible."