IHE CARIBBEAN AREA — HAITI 



Oceanic Currents ; The waters of Haiti are affected considerably by ocean currents. On 

 the northj a branch of the North Equatorial Current passes approximately 20 miles offshore, 

 flowing from east to west over depths ranging upvfard to almost 2,^00 fathoms. This current 

 carries little or no nutrient material but it is one of the major migration routes of tuna, 

 marlin, swordfish, and other species having migratory habits. Another current, originating 

 off Cape St. Nicolas L'ole, flows southwestward through the Windward Passage and joins the 

 eastward flowing Cuban Counter Current off Cape Dame Marie. The latter passes eastward 

 about 25 miles off along the coast at a speed of 0.5 to 0.6 knots and disperses in liona 

 Passage. Sixty to 70 miles off the south coast is another branch of the North Equatorial 

 Current. This flows westv/ard through the Caribbean at a speed of from 0,5 to 0.7 knots. 

 This Current is possibly another channel or route for migratory species. The waters of Haiti 

 are regarded as rather poor producers of fish since there are no large supplies of nutrient 

 salts available for plankton production. Even the inshore waters are clear and blue. Ihere 

 is little chance for upwelling and the ocean currents in this regicai are poor in nutrient 

 salts. 



In the eastern portion of the Windward Channel a current with a velocity of about 3/4- 

 knot sets northward around Pearl Point, but beyoud a distance of six miles offshore, this 

 current usually sets westward or west-southwestward. Close northward of Cape St. Nicolas 

 Uole, this inshore northerly current meets a constant westerly current which sets along the 

 northern coast of Hispaniolaj tide rips set up by the meeting of these currents are plainly 

 visible. This westerly current flows from Cape Haitien and through Tortuga Channel at a 

 rate of about one knotj between Juan Rabel Point and Cape St. Nicolas Mole the current 

 increases in strength and inclines toward the land. Close inshore along this latter stretch 

 of coast, there is sometimes a northeasterly-setting current. 



Species and Distribution 



The fish population and its distribution in Haitian waters is typically West Indian, 

 Beebe and Tee-Van, in 1928, listed 270 species in 8A families which they found in a small 

 part of Port-au-Prince Bay. The total number of species from the island of Hispaniola is 

 placed at about 324, It maybe broken dov.ii in the following general groups: 



(a) Offshore, pelagic, migratory ; 



tuna swordfish marlin sailfish 



(b) Offshore, pelagic ; 



dolphin flying fish barracuda ocean sunfish 



sharks 



(c) Deep-sea , demersal ; 



groupers snappei^ hinds morajrs 



(d) Inshore , demersal . and reef ; 



groupers snappers grunts squirrelfish 



wrasses hinds scorpion-fish angelfish 



spadefish Pomacentrids seabass Holocentrids 



morays triggerfish puffers flo-onders 

 threadfias 



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