Pedro Bank - Cays, Rocks and Reefs

Cays, Rocks and Reefs

Pedro Cays, at 17°00′N 77°50′W / 17.000°N 77.833°W / 17.000; -77.833 (Pedro Cays), four small, flat (2 to 5 metres high), low-lying and mostly uninhabited cays, lie about midway along the southern edge of the eastern half of Pedro Bank. The sparse land vegetation consists of six species of plants, none of which are endemic. The cays are regionally important seabird nesting and roosting areas (masked boobies, roseate terns and others) and also provide several endangered turtle species such as hawksbills and loggerheads with nesting grounds. The islets yield some guano and coconuts. More importantly, they represent the primary harvesting area for the largest export of Queen Conch from the Caribbean region. They were occupied by the British in 1863 and made part of Jamaica in 1882. They are considered part of the parish of Kingston, for all purposes except taxes.

• Northeast Cay (Top Cay), 75,000 m², at 17°03′N 77°46′W / 17.050°N 77.767°W / 17.050; -77.767 (Northeast Cay), is covered with brush and has a group of palm trees growing on its northwest side. There is a lighted beacon in the north.
• Middle Cay, 40,000 m², at 17°01′N 77°47′W / 17.017°N 77.783°W / 17.017; -77.783 (Middle Cay) is covered with low grass and bushes. A Jamaican Coast Guard station and a fishermen's camp with number of huts and a large shed are in the southeast.
• Southwest Cay (Bird Cay), 152,000 m², at 16°59′N 77°49′W / 16.983°N 77.817°W / 16.983; -77.817 (Southwest Cay), the largest of the Pedro Cays, is a protected bird sanctuary, with a large tree.
• South Cay (Sandy Cay), 2,000 m², at 16°57′N 77°50′W / 16.950°N 77.833°W / 16.950; -77.833 (South Cay), consists of coral and shells. This is the southernmost point of land of Jamaica.

In a wider sense, some over-water rocks, small outcrops of oolitic limestone over which water breaks, are considered part of the Pedro Cays:

• Portland Rock (also called Eastern Pedro Cay), at 17°06′N 77°27′W / 17.100°N 77.450°W / 17.100; -77.450 (Portland Rock), lies about 63 km SSW of Portland Point, the southern extremity of Jamaica. The rock consists of two summits that lie in an east-west direction.
• Blower Rock, at 17°03′N 77°31′W / 17.050°N 77.517°W / 17.050; -77.517 (Blower Rock), lies 8 km southwest of Portland Rock, and is 0.6 m high.
• Shannon Rock, at 17°02′N 77°40′W / 17.033°N 77.667°W / 17.033; -77.667 (Shannon Rock), lies about 15 km WSW of Blower Rock. It is 0.5 m high.

There are several submarine features on Pedro Bank, such as:

• Banner Reef, at 16°52′N 78°06′W / 16.867°N 78.100°W / 16.867; -78.100 (Banner Reef), awash and 2.4 km long, lies 26 km WSW of South Cay.
• Southwest Rock, at 16°48′N 78°11′W / 16.800°N 78.183°W / 16.800; -78.183 (Southwest Rock), lies about 9 km southwest of Banner Reef.
• Willsteed Rock, at 17°08′N 77°37′W / 17.133°N 77.617°W / 17.133; -77.617 (Willsteed Rock), with a depth of 12, lies 13 km northwest of Blower Rock.
• Doyle Shoal, at 17°09′N 77°33′W / 17.150°N 77.550°W / 17.150; -77.550 (Doyle Shoal), with a depth of 14 m, lies 13 km NNW of Blower Rock.
• Powell Knoll, at 16°47′N 77°43′W / 16.783°N 77.717°W / 16.783; -77.717 (Powell Knoll), lies 32 km southwest of Shannon Rock, with a lowest depth of 28.8 m. It is the southernmost feature of Jamaica, not counting Alice Shoal, which is claimed by Jamaica but considered part of Colombia.