Empowering Fishing Communities in the MAR Reef

As reported before, through the Project of the Month Club we were able to work with the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) and help local fishermen in the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge (RVSPM) in Guatemala consolidate their fish replenishment zones.

Aiming to strengthen the extension and actions to comply with the II Agreement between CONAP and the La Graciosa, Punta Gruesa and Laguna Santa Isabel communities for the administration, management and sustainable use of the RVSPM fish replenishment zones (FRZ).

The objectives stated within this support have been worked on, up to date CONAP has been able to acquire the equipment needed to develop the first monitoring within the FRZ and the buoys, with its anchoring system, have been renovated and are going to be placed to demarcate the FRZ.

The process to sign the II Agreement is on its way, awaiting the approval from CONAP´s central office to be able to sign it with the communities.

Thank you all for being part of this journey with us, all we have achieved has been thanks to your support.

We look forward to continue helping the Punta de Manabique communities move forward with their effort to recover their fisheries. We´ll keep you posted.

Thank you

From the MAR Fund Team.

We continue supporting Cuerpos de Conservación de Omoa (CCO), the NGO that co-administrates the Cuyamel Omoa National Park. With your help we were able to provide funding to develop a project called “Improving Governance and the Scientific Basis of Landscape in the Paraiso, Muchilena and Chachahuala” (PAMUCH) Fish Replenishment Zone, Omoa, Honduras”

Through this support we´ll be able to strengthen the Governance with the participation of stakeholders, expand the information base of the landscape of PAMUCH, promote processes of scientific research and social knowledge of the lionfish and expand the technical recommendations for its control.

The objectives of this phase are:

• Evaluate the progress made with the PAMUCH Interinstitutional Committee and propose new management actions.
• Carry out a study of the area of influence of the ARP PAMUCH to determine the environmental problems and identify potential sustainable alternatives that will allow the improvement of income to the surrounding inhabitants and within the micro-watersheds.
• Support a population study of the Lionfish by the Department of Biology of the UNAH Valle Sula and determine the potential for its local market.
• Implement control and surveillance activities in PAMUCH.

All support provided has been possible thanks to your involvement, each activity developed takes us closer to the thriving resource we want our future generations to enjoy.

Thank you for your help and for believing in our work.

May this holiday season be fill with joy and love!

We´ll keep you posted on how this project is developed.

Happy Holidays

The MAR Fund Team.