Communities urge action to save Laguna de Cabral

Barahona, D.R.- Fishermen and community members from Cabral, El Peñón, Cristóbal, and nearby areas in Barahona and Independencia are urgently calling on Manuel Pineda, regional director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), to address the critical shortage of water flowing into Laguna de Cabral through the Trujillo canal. They also urge Carlos Alcántara, general manager of the Junta de Regantes, to coordinate immediate efforts to restore the water supply, warning that the disappearance of this vital lagoon would devastate local fishing communities who depend on it for their livelihoods.

The lagoon’s water level is rapidly shrinking due to a diversion of water to other areas, threatening its biodiversity, including flora, fauna, and fishing activity. The community stresses that without urgent intervention to restore water flow via the Mena Trujillo canal, irreversible damage will occur to the ecosystem and many families will lose their primary source of income.

Laguna de Cabral, also called Laguna Rincón, is the largest freshwater body in the Dominican Republic and an ecologically important wetland between Barahona and Independencia provinces. It was declared a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 2011, recognizing its role as a critical habitat for migratory birds, fish, turtles, and diverse wildlife. The lagoon receives water from the Yaque del Sur River and drains into Lake Enriquillo. Community members highlight that protecting this Ramsar-designated wetland is crucial for preserving its unique ecological value and supporting the traditional fishing economy in the region.