Banco Chinchorro (Caribbean Sea, Mexico): underwater cultural heritage and environmental protection

L’Atlas Bleu / Protecting

Lying some thirty kilometres off the South East coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (Quintana Roo State, Mexico) Banco Chinchorro is part of the second coral barrier reef in the world (Mesoamerican reef system; CONAMP, 2018). Given its geographical importance and biodiversity (INAH, 2012), in 1996, after UNESCO’s designation of Man and Biosphere Program, the Mexican government declared it a Biosphere Reserve (1,443.60 km² including its buffer zone). In 2003, it was put on the RAMSAR list to protect migrating birds and wetlands. Later, as a result of the decree of 17th of April 2017 it is surrounded by a vast area (5 754 055.3 ha, i.e.57 540.553 km²) of the Caribe Mexicano (Mexican Caribbean) declared an underwater Protected Natural Area which acts as a biosphere reserve (Carrillo Márquez et Ménanteau, 2012).

Also referred to as Quitasueños (Sleep stealer) until the 18^th century, Banco Chinchorro was not on the official maritime routes for sailing and steam ships in the Caribbean Sea. Nevertheless, from 1638 an important route for the English Campeche wood (Haematoxylum campechianun) trade crossed the sea from Cape Catoche (Northeast of Yucatán Peninsula) to the Walix and Hondo rivers (now Belize) with Jamaica as the central hub and distribution centre.
This reef platform or atoll, surrounded by turquoise waters which has a very irregular topography is almost entirely under water (99.6 %).The brusque changes in depth constitute a significant obstacle on the ships route. Its orientation also disturbs coastal and open sea currents and the swell. Passes along the reef barrier allow ships to seek shelter in the lagoon although even then a steering fault, a misinterpretation of the charts or adverse climatic conditions could easily lead to a shipwreck.
The remnants of the numerous shipwrecks along the contour of the bank have turned Banco Chinchorro into one of the key places of the Mexican maritime heritage (Carrillo Márquez, 2010 ; Carrillo Márquez et Zuccolotto Villalobos, 2017).
These underwater cultural treasures have been and continue to be studied by the Subdirección de Arqueología Subacuática (SAS) of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) of the Mexican federal government. So far 70 sites have been recorded 42 of which correspond to wrecked ships (Carrillo Márquez et al., 2023).
Among these we include 29 sailing ships, four steam ships including the British Mallard, the Inger Skou, a German cargo vessel of the Hansa A type belonging to the Danish company Ove Skou on 15-09-1882, the Belgian S.S. Glenview belonging to the Liberian company Theo Inc. on 03-06-1952 and Monrovia on 24-01-1964. Six merchant vessels like the Dutch MV Huba on 27-04-1960, the Tropic Trader on 09-03-1968 and the tug Emily Cheramie, which sank on 08-05-1998.
Apart from ships there are 28 isolated objects regarded as part of naval archaeological importance (anchors, canons, helices, boilers). In the case of several ships it has been impossible to correlate the data regarding their maritime accidents provided by the archives with other underwater materials.
Underwater cultural and natural heritage are complementary. So far the site has not been included in the UNESCO world heritage list as a mixed site (cultural and natural) as it is thought that it ought to be part of a much larger area including Sian Ka’an (Yucatán, Mexico) and the Belize keys. Nevertheless, declaring the area as a Refugio Pesquero Total Temporal in 2018 (for a five year period) has led to improved sustainable development by joining environmental and human activities.

Cayo Lobos island – Panoramic view looking South from Cayo Lobos, to the South-East of Banco Chinchorro. The three lighthouses can be seen on this key, the furthest to the right has been partially eroded by the sea. Covering an area of two hectares, with dune sands partly fixed by vegetation, it is one of the few emerged places on the coral reef. Photo taken by Jerónimo Avilés Olguín, 21-06-2011. @ INAH-SAS

Caldera – Beyond and to the North-North-West of the lagoon, in relatively shallow waters, under 3 metres. The remains of a steam ship (late 19th-early 20th century?) were named Caldera by the locals. Its triple-expansion steam engine can be seen. The boiler (caldera), made in Scotland, is submerged next to it. We can see Cayo Norte on the horizon. Photo taken by Alberto Soto, 26-11-2022. @ INAH-SAS

El Olvidado – The bow of the ship El Olvidado, at a depth of 10-12 metres. Its wreck is being transformed into an artificial reef, enriching the biodiversity of the natural underwater site. Underwater photo taken by Eugenio Aceves Núñez, 20-05-2007. @ INAH-SAS

Manuel Polanco – On a coral bed, an iron anchor from the Manuel Polanco ship, named after the fisherman who discovered it, in its coral gangue, integrating it into the natural underwater environment. Underwater photo taken by Alberto Soto, 26-11-2022. INAH-SAS

40 Cañones – To the North-West of Banco Chinchorro, several of the 36 iron cannons inventoried from the wreck of the 18th-century ship called 40 Cañones lie at a depth of 6 m on the lagoon floor. They are trapped in the coral gangue that has formed on their surface, contributing to biodiversity. Underwater photo taken by Carlos Castillo, 12-09-2015. @ INAH-SAS

40 Cañones – Plan of one of the iron cannons from the wreck of the ship called 40 Cañones, with its breech and knob in the foreground. Underwater photo taken by Carlos Castillo, 10-05-2007. @ INAH-SAS

40 Cañones – The mouth of an iron cannon on which various types of coral, sea sponges and other marine organisms have developed, making the archaeological object almost invisible. Photo taken by Laura Carrillo, 26-11-2011. @ INAH-SAS

El Ángel – Survey by INAH-SAS archaeologists of the bottom structures of the hull, its covering and the cabin of the wreck of the brigantine El Ángel, approximately 30 m long and 9 m wide. Underwater photo taken by Michel Segura, 24-11-2018. @ INAH-SAS

Cayo Centro – View towards the west of Cayo Centro. We can see the lagoon which occupies the middle of the key and, on the right, a pier and the facilities of the CONANP station to house rangers and groups of researchers who have come to carry out various studies in the reserve. To the left, to the south, are the palafitos of the three fishing cooperatives operating in the area. Oblique aerial photo taken by Paris Palacios, 18-09-2014. @ INAH-SAS

Palafitos – To the south-west of Cayo Centro there are wooden houses on stilts (palafitos) belonging to the fishermen’s cooperatives. Photo taken by Octavio González, 20-12-2023. @ INAH-SAS