ury saw continued population growth resulting in increasing
economic changes, and environmental challenges. A population boom began with an
influx of Spanish-speaking Mestizo migrants from the Honduran mainland. In the
last decades they tripled the original resident population. Mestizo migrants
settled primarily in the urban areas of Coxen Hole and Barrio Los Fuertes (near
French Harbour). But in terms of population and economic influence, the
mainlander influx was dwarfed by the overwhelming tourist presence in most recent
years. Numerous American, Canadian, British, New Zealand, Australian and South
African settlers and entrepreneurs engaged chiefly in the fishing industry, and
later, provided the foundation for attracting the tourist trade.
In 1998, Roatán suffered some damage
from Hurricane Mitch, temporarily paralyzing most commercial activity. The
storm also broke the popular dive-wrecks "Aguila" and
"Odyssey" into several pieces
