THE CARIBBEAN AEEA — NICARAGUA 



Rainfall is abundant and there is a Treil-marked wet and drj'- season. The rainy season 

 extends rrcm May to November and the balance of the year constitutes the dry season. There 

 is scaietimes a decrease in rainfall for several weeks during the sumicer; this is known as 

 the "veranilla". Average rainfall is between 60 and 80 inches annually. During the rainy 

 season, there are frequent thunderstorms accompanied by gales from the west and southwest. 

 The violent local squalls which occur in connection with these thunderstorms are known as 

 "chubascos". 



In the winter, northeasterly and northerly gales of the norther type are experienced. 

 These are called "papagayos" and occur in the coastal waters and in inlets and harbors such 

 as the Gulf of Fonseca, the harbor of Corinto, and in the Gulf of Papagayo. The wind force 

 may be as high as 10 to 12 on the Beaufort scale and the stonns ma;/ last for a few hours or 

 for several days. 



The waters of the coast are tropical and are influenced by the Equatorial Counter 

 Current which drifts northwestward offshore along the coast. It is deficient in nutrient 

 salts and warm. It is doubted that any considerable mixing occurs on this coast to enhance 

 the pi-oductivity of the waters. Conditions along this coast, however, are not well known, 

 and it is possible that future research will indicate upwelling. Surface-water temperatvires 

 vary from 78.-4 degrees F. in February to 82.5 degrees F. in May. This range indicates that 

 there may be increments of wanner or cooler water at certain seasons. 



The ecological conditions are of four general types: 



(a) estuarine and liigoon: brackish water, mangrove swaiqjs, and mud bottoms. 



(b) the open beaches: surfswept, sand bottoms. 



(c) open areas of fairly deep water: surface layers, 



(d) open areas of fairly deep water: mud, sand, shell, and rock bottoais. 



Species and Distribution 



Caribbean Coast ; The species to be found on the Caribbean coast belong to the typical 

 West Indian fauna, but certain pelagic species such as tunas, swordfish, sailfish, and 

 marlins are probably lacking in the inshore waters. 



As far as can be determined, there has been no fishery exploration or taxonomic studies 

 mcide on the Nicaraguan Caribbe«in coast. For this reason, it is impossible to give a complete, 

 accurate picture of the fish fauna. It is possible, however, to list the general kinds of 

 fish and their probable distribution. 



(a) Lagoons: brackish to fresh and super saline, mud and sand bottom, mangrove 

 swamp surrounded. Wide variations in temperature, salinity, and 

 turbidity. 



Principal types 



tarpon oysters mojarras sawfish 



mullets gobies threadfins crabs 



gr^mts shi-iiip groupers sole 



suichovies snooks snappers gars 



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