The surveys during the five Canek cruises which, in addition to moored current meters, included shipboard and lowered ADCP, hydrography and lagrangian floats, typify the principal features of the current field in the Straits of Yucatan. The predominant feature of the flow is the Yucatan Current, which flows throughout the year to the north along the western slope from the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico as an intense jet with speeds usually in excess of 2 m sec-1 near the surface. Its width and position oscillate across the Straits and a second maximum of the current is sometimes observed near the center of the channel. The Yucatan Current closely follows the topography of the western shelf and slope along the Campeche bank into the Gulf of Mexico. A significant portion of the current often flows trough the Cozumel Channel, but part of it is then deflected offshore from Isla Mujeres by the bank offshore. Sometimes a partial return flow into the Caribbean is seen off Cozumel.

Southerly flows that transport water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Caribbean are also present in the Straits. A counterflow at depth beneath the Yucatan Current has been known to exist for some time. Our data document a more important southerly flow at depth, mid-channel. Also, a westerly current off the northwestern coast of Cuba, which can onset rapidly, sometimes turns to the south into the Caribbean. Eddies appear to modulate the flow as they are swept from the south through the Straits.

Ecologically sensitive coastal areas within the Panama Canal areas are scheduled to come under Panamanian management by the year 2,000, through provisions of the 1977 Carter-Torrijos Treaty. This coastal area includes relatively pristine natural habitats typical of the Caribbean coastal Region.

This project has a great priority for the Country of Panama for two reasons: first, due the proximity of the area to the Panama Canal. Second, because the second largest city in the republic of Panama, Colon, located on the Caribbean side claimed for a sustainable development alternative. The city and surrounding areas has a population of more than 2,000 inhabitants and an unemployment rate 32%. Many of these people depend on fisheries offshore for livelihood. This project has the hope of the needy communities on the Caribbean coast. One of the main goals of this project is to improve economy opportunities for local people through the multiple use of the mangrove forest and coral reefs based on the needs of local people with international coastal training programs. The area is located at the northeast of the Panama Canal between Margarita Island and Maria Chiquita. At this area lies the most extensive ecosystem of mangrove forest and coral reefs located at the center of the Caribbean coast of Panama. This ecosystem covers near 2300 hectares that consist of mangrove forest (1700 hectares), coral reefs (800 hectares) and sandy beaches with coconut trees (90 hectares).

There is a great demand for urban and commercial development of the area due to proximity of the Panama Canal and high rates of unemployment. In the near by the city of Colon, unmanaged commercial development will destroy the natural barrier that mangrove forest and coral reefs create against the invasion of the sea water upon the land. It is well known that there is evidence of the rise in the sea level. The sea level has increased more than 10 cm in cristobal port, near Colon City where is a tide gauge since 1914. Since 1986 studies by Dr. John Cubit and Dr. Norman Duke predicted serious problems in Colon because the daily average of the tide is only 17 cm above the sea level. Most of the populated areas along the coast are located above sea level, such as Colon City, Cristobal, France Field and Cocosolo. When theses areas have high tides and heavy rains they are usually bothered with floods. This year 1998, Panama had a very dry season because of the Nino effect. But, the biggest inundation in the area was reported in April 25, 1998 after a storm.

The area where this work is going on is very interesting from many point of view. Historically, it is located between the city of Portobelo at northeast of the Panama Canal and the San Lorenzo fort at northwest of the Panama Canal dated back in the Spanish Colonial period. More recently 1900, we have the fortifications in Fort Randolph at the North entrance of the Panama Canal the ports of Cristobal, Colon city and the Free Zone. The modern and the old are present along the coast including the terminal of the old railroad 1850, which is now being reconstructed. The Oil Refinery is also very close to Colon city. Living on the coast line are the native inhabitants and the marine resources that these people need it. The preservation of their local environment, their culture and custom and mostly their way of living is very important for these people. We hope to take care not only for nature but also of the culture of the country.