(1529), showing Serrana Bank. Serrana Bank takes its name in honor of the Spanish castaway
Pedro Serrano, who lived there from 1525 until he was rescued in 1532, an adventure that inspired the novel
Robinson Crusoe by
Daniel Defoe. The Royal Decree of November 20, 1803 resolved that the
Archipelago of San Andrés, as well as the part of
Mosquitia between
Cabo Gracias a Dios and the
Chagres River, be separated from the
Captaincy General of Guatemala and placed under the jurisdiction of the
Viceroyalty of New Granada. With the advent of the independence struggles of the Hispanic American colonies, Colombia secured sovereignty over the islands when they subscribed to the
Constitution of Cúcuta in June 1822. In later history, it has been the subject of
conflicting claims by several
sovereign states; in most cases, the dispute stems from attempts by a state to expand its
exclusive economic zone over the surrounding seas. On September 8, 1972, the two countries signed a treaty recognizing Colombia's sovereignty over
Roncador Cay and Serrana Bank and abandoning American sovereignty over
Quita Sueño Bank. The United States retained a fishing concession over the three banks. This treaty became effective on September 17, 1981. On November 19, 2012, regarding Nicaraguan claims to the islands, the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) reaffirmed Colombia's sovereignty. On September 3, 2007, the eye of
Category 5 Hurricane Felix passed over Serrana Bank. ==See also==