When international oil companies were exploring off Cuba’s northwestern coast last year, much of the U.S. media focused on the risk of oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon disaster that fouled the Gulf of Mexico because it was close to South Florida.”

Now that exploration efforts have shifted to Cuba’s north-central coast, the media seems far less interested in the environmental consequences.

That worries attorney Dan Whittle, Cuba program director at the New York-based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Whittle has been monitoring Cuba’s marine life for the past 12 years. At first, he was concerned about the island’s expanding tourism sector and the adverse effects it might have on the environment.

But with that sector still limited mainly to Havana and Varadero, Whittle says he’s focusing more now on offshore oil drilling.

“My concern as an environmentalist is the impact on Cuban marine life,” Whittle told us. “That area, [Cuba’s north central coast] is very important. It’s extremely rich in marine biodiversity. The impact could be significant from any major oil spill. What distinguishes this from other sites is the near-shore impact.”

The EDF notes that the Cuban government has designated 18% of its ocean shelf as marine protected areas, with plans to increase that area to 25%.

The organization has a long track record monitoring Cuba’s coastlines. As far back as the 1990s, the EDF took part in helping the Castro government protect Jardines de la Reina, an 850-sq-mile marine reserve along Cuba’s southeastern coast.

The reserve boasts large populations of sea turtles, sharks, huge groupers and thick sea grass meadows all essential in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Whittle understands that the regime is under pressure to find oil off its coasts, especially because its major petroleum source, Venezuela, could dry up if ailing President Hugo Chávez dies.

However, Whittle hopes the Cubans are cautious with their offshore activities.

“If they are intent on proceeding, then they should do so in the most careful, sensitive way possible,” said Whittle, saying his concerns aren’t limited to Cuba. “Fishing, coastal development, and offshore oil and gas exploration in Cuba can have huge impacts on the United States and vice-versa.”

The nonprofit group is also urging the Cubans to look seriously at ocean thermal energy as well as other alternatives to oil.

“With good standards and policy in place, Cuba could be a model for clean energy development in the Caribbean,” said Dr. Rod Fujita, director of ocean innovations  the research and development arm of EDF.