Jamaica s marine genetic resources: challenges and opportunities

Transcription

1 Jamaica s marine genetic resources: challenges and opportunities Caribbean ABS Workshop Marcia Creary Ford Environmental Data Manager Caribbean Coastal Data Centre Centre for Marine Sciences University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Kingston Jamaica W.I.

2 Exclusive Economic Zone Approx. 60 named offshore islet and cays. Planktonic and pelagic communities exists in the off shore water Rich and relatively un-studied deepwater benthic fauna. EEZ 161,000 Km2 or 24 times the size of the mainland

3 What is known What is known 3427 species 760 algae 2667 fauna 143 genera from deep sea (Expedition 60s/ 70s). What is unknown Over 2600 Specimens collected, yet 50% to be identified ~1 million species yet to be discovered (excluding bacteria and viruses) Goodbody 2004

4 Studies in Biodiversity Research laboratories John Hopkins University Marine Laboratory at Port Henderson (1890 s and 1900 s ) Hofstra University Marine Laboratory now closed University of the West Indies Port Royal (1955-present) Discovery Bay (1968-present) Expeditions Eastward and Gosnold (1960/70) specimens from Pedro Channel and Morant Ridge Florida Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (1990 s) deep sea sponges

5 Harvesting of Sea Squirts Through agreement with PharmaMar. Supply 500 kg of the ascidians, frozen and shipped One shipment made, analogue of the active compound subsequently synthesized Contained compounds called Ecteinascidins Metabolites useful in alleviating certain childhood cancers, leukemia and the treatment for inflammatory conditions Ecteinascidia turbinata PharmMar 2007

6 International Cooperative Biodiversity Group Programmes New Drugs from Marine Natural Resources from Jamaica reefs Project University of Mississippi and UWI Medicinal potential for marine life in Jamaican coral reefs Potential to bring important pharmaceuticals to the market place. Preliminary Grant Application Samples collected and exported under a Materials Transfer Agreement. Filing of a US Utility Patent Application based on materials collected in Jamaica Full Grant Application unsuccessful due to degraded status of Jamaica s reefs and competition from other locations

7 Restoration of Coral Reefs In association with the National Institute of Oceanography in Haifa, Israel Reef building coral species susceptible to bleaching Extract DNA from the zooxanthallae Corals with resistant strains used for rehabilitation Training took take place in Israel No Publication

8 Other on going activities Teaching DNA extraction - sea urchin and seagrass (teaching methodology) Research Chemical assays of marine algae, fungi, sponges, gorgonians Conch DNA Collection by overseas researchers, extraction of bioactive compounds

9 Challenges Limited knowledge about marine biodiversity, deep sea and extensive EEZ, lack of expertise in species identification Limited capacity Facilities Training/knowledge/technology Research Experience with access and benefit sharing Commercialization benefits shared in the form of capacity building, research equipment and funding collections Difficult to get information on ongoing research and bio-prospecting

10 Challenges (cont d) Limited experience with access and benefit sharing Mistrust Illegal removal of organisms Threat to the livelihood of resources users

11 Opportunities For various types of research Taxonomic/inventory Biological/Ecological Relatedness of species and adaptation potential To discover bioactive compounds Treat and cure diseases Food, health and cosmetic etc Economic benefits to communities Environmental Management Natural resource management, enforcement and public awareness & education Collaboration/private investment Prior consent Participating in research Technology transfer Sharing in proceeds on commercialization

12 Thank You Marcia M. Creary Ford Environmental Data Manager Caribbean Coastal Data Centre Centre for Marine Sciences University of the West Indies Kingston, Jamaica W.I.