Isla Aves

Isla de Aves (Spanish for "Island of Birds"), or Aves Island, is a Caribbean islet whose status is the subject of a territorial dispute between Dominica and Venezuela. It lies to the west of the Leeward Islands chain at coord|15|40|18|N|63|36|59|W|. It is 375 m in length and never more than 50 m in width, and rises 4 m above the sea on a calm day. Mostly sand, a small portion has some scrubby vegetation. It is sometimes completely submerged during hurricanes. It is 115 miles southwest of Montserrat, 70 miles west of Dominica and 340 miles north of the Venezuelan mainland.

For some time the island has been in danger of eroding altogether, and Venezuelan authorities are considering ways to protect it, along with the territorial claims to the Caribbean Sea which radiate from Isla Aves. The impact of Hurricane Allen in the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season divided it into two parts, but accretions of coral have subsequently reunited it. On August 17, 2007, the force of Hurricane Dean severely eroded the island.

The island is a resting and breeding place for seabirds and the Green Sea Turtle ("Chelonia mydas"). Its low profile makes it a hazard to navigation, and many ships have been wrecked here.

It is not to be confused with the Islas Las Aves to the west of Los Roques group much nearer to the Venezuelan mainland.

Aves Island is a particularly rare amateur radio "entity", under the ITU prefix YV0. A 2006 expedition by operators to the island required 14 years of planningFact|date=June 2007. Though one member suffered a fatal heart attack, over 42,000 contacts were made during their week-long stayFact|date=June 2007.

History

The island was most likely discovered by Avaro Sanzze in 1584, though it was not settled. It was subsequently claimed for Great Britain, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. From 1878 to 1912 the island was occupied by American guano miners until supplies were eventually exhausted.

Isla de Aves was included in Venezuela's territorial reorganization done by President Joaquin Crespo in 1895. By 1905, Isla de Aves was a municipality called "Municipio Oriental" part of Colon Federal Territory.

In 1950, a Venezuelan Navy fleet consisting of two patrol boats and one transport boat reached the island and a group of soldiers effectively took control of the island. On June 2, 1978, the Venezuelan Navy set up a scientific naval base named "Simón Bolívar" on the lee (west) side near the southern tip of the island, constructed as a platform built on stilts partially in the water, which was permanently inhabited by a group of scientists and military personnel.

The Venezuelan military in 2004 expanded the naval base, which was raised on stilts above the water. Several Caribbean island nations, including Dominica, have asserted to the United Nations that Venezuela's claim to an extensive exclusive economic zone of up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from Isla de Aves is illegal. They cite the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea provision that prohibits isolated, tiny islets from being used to make any claim beyond the 12 nautical mile (22 km) territorial sea limit. Venezuela is not a signatory to that UN Convention.

With the joint-signing of the PetroCaribe S.A. agreement between Venezuela and many of the Caribbean states, there may be decreased pressure by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to continue pushing the sovereignty issue.

External links

* [http://www.explore-yachts.com/charter/isla-aves.htm Information about the island]
* [http://www.caricom.org/jsp/communications/communiques/22hgc_2001_communique.jsp?menu=communications Official Communique from the CARICOM heads of government] ndash Subheader "OECS-Venezuela"
* [http://da-academy.org/birdisl.html BIRD ISLAND: TIME TO ACT] - Editorial on the Commonwealth of Dominica taking steps to reclaim sovereignty over the island.
* [http://www.thedominican.net/articles/bird-island.htm Aves Island a Strategic Island in the Caribbean Sea - by Thomson Fontaine] - Should Dominica Stake a Claim to the Island? ("The Dominican", October 21, 2002)
* [http://www.yv0.info/] 2006 amateur radio activity, including pictures.
* [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17310 NASA Earth Observatory]

Articles and papers

* [http://www.nationnews.com/300078531512375.php "Island' talk for Caricom, Venezuela] - (July 7th, 2006) - "Barbados NationNews"
* [http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000008/000874.htm OECS searching for Bird Island solution] - (March 16th, 2006) - "Caribbean Net News"
* [http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=23427 Shock over Bird Island] - (November 10th, 2005) - "Barbados Advocate News"
* [http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=23425 Drama over Bird Island] (November 10th, 2005) - "Barbados Advocate News"
* [http://www.nationnews.com/353940187592816.php OECS raps Caracas' claim to island] (November 9th, 2005) - "Barbados NationNews"
* [http://www.nationnews.com/309993735788132.php Caricom to meet over Aves Island] (October 24th, 2005) - "Barbados NationNews"
* [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2001/07/14/opi_art_OPI5.shtml History proves Venezuelan onwership of Isla de Aves]
* [http://buscador.eluniversal.com/2005/11/09/en_pol_art_09A630259.shtml VicePresident Rangel thinks that the "empire" is behind claim to Aves Island]