Havana, November 19 (RHC)-- Representatives of Cuba and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost bilateral cooperation in the preservation and management of protected marine areas.

The document was signed Wednesday in the framework of the 10th Congress of Marine Sciences (MARCUBA 2015), which ends tomorrow, Friday, in Havana. The MoU provides for joint efforts by Cuban and U.S. expert teams to conduct scientific research and manage those protected areas, as well as their supervision by the two sides.

The protected areas identified for joint Cuba-U.S. collaboration are Cuba's Guanahacabibes National Park, and on the U.S. side, the Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, the Florida Keys and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Cuba's Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and the Environment Mario González said the agreement is the first of its kind between the two countries since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations.

The two sides agreed on the importance of bilateral exchanges, especially as the Cuban ecosystems and the Mangrove Swamps of the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary are connected by the same ocean currents.