The Caribbean coastal marine productivity program (CARICOMP)

CARICOMP is a regional scientific program to study land-sea interaction pro cesses in the Caribbean coastal zone. It has been collecting data since 199 2, when a Data Management Centre was established at the University of the W est Indies in Jamaica. Initially it focuses on documenting the structure an d productivity of major coastal communities (mangrove forests, seagrass mea dows and coral reefs) at relatively undisturbed sites in diverse physical s ettings. Second, by regular recording of physical and biological parameters , it monitors for change, seeking to distinguish natural from anthropogenic disturbance. Third it constitutes a regional network of observers, able to collaborate on studies of region-wide events. Examples are presented of th e diverse data sets collected by the Program.