Fishermen from the Gulf of Honduras came together to share their experiences of economic diversification to conserve fisheries
It’s exciting to see fishers across the region working together to ensure a sustainable future for fisheries, their communities, and the next generation!
On September 25, a Fishermen’s Economic Diversification Exchange was organized by Fundación para el Eco-Desarrollo y la Conservación (FUNDAECO) in collaboration with Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) and the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) and supported by The Summit Foundation and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM). The exchange was held as part of the Fisher Forum of the Tri-national Alliance for the Conservation of the Gulf of Honduras (TRIGOH), organized by Cuerpos de Conservación de Omoa (CCO) and supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The event took place in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, and brought together 40 participants, including fishers, NGOs, and fisheries authorities from Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, who are working together for integrated coastal zone management in the transnational area of the Gulf of Honduras.
During the Fisher’s Economic Diversification Exchange, fishers from each country shared their experiences on alternative livelihoods. These included a fishing gear shop and a fisherwomen’s restaurant in Guatemala, a seafood restaurant and seaweed-based products in Belize, and chicken coops and aquaponics systems in Honduras, encouraging other fishers to pursue alternative sustainable livelihoods to secure their income while allowing fish stocks to recover.
The MAR Fish project partners have committed to continue working to implement tailored diversification strategies for different communities in each country. CORAL with a fishermen’s association and two communities in Honduras, FUNDAECO with a pilot income diversification project with one community in Guatemala, and TIDE with a feasibility study for at least two communities in Belize. The fishermen, motivated by the shared experiences, committed to continue participating in these opportunities, recognizing the income benefits and economic security that these alternative livelihoods can bring to their families and their communities while supporting the recovery of their fisheries so they can continue to fish in the future.
During the forum, the fishers also expressed the challenges they face and their needs, proposing solutions regarding fisheries legislation, sustainable fishing gear, and the creation of protected areas to support fish replenishment. These measures are aimed at improving artisanal fisheries throughout the Gulf of Honduras. The NGOs and authorities committed to working on improving the regulatory system in each country, particularly concerning the transnational area, through a social and threat analysis to be carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The results will be used by WCS to develop a policy brief in collaboration with the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization (OSPECA). The fishermen committed to integrate sustainable practices and management efforts to protect their fisheries.
Photos: Michelle Fernández
COP16: A Key Moment for Coral Reef Conservation
Photo: Albatross Foundation
MAR Fund Initiatives Present at COP16
From October 21 to November 1, 2024, the global conservation community will gather in Cali, Colombia, for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16).
MAR Fund will play an active role through its initiatives, MAR+Invest and the Reef Rescue Initiative (RRI). Both are dedicated to ensuring sustainable management of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) and contributing to global coral reef conservation. MAR+Invest focuses on driving private investments toward conservation efforts, ensuring that marine ecosystems, including reefs, are protected for future generations. The RRI, another key initiative, works on coral reef restoration and building resilience to safeguard the future of MAR.
MAR Fund will participate in various activities, workshops, and forums in the Blue Zone, including the GEF Partnership Pavilion, organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the For Coral Pavilion, organized by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
The GEF Pavilion will bring together the Global Environment Facility and conservation funds and partners to ensure ongoing support for sustainable biodiversity management worldwide, from the Amazon to the Congo and the Himalayas, and across the ocean.
The For Coral Pavilion will serve as a crucial meeting point during COP16, focusing on urgent efforts for coral reef conservation. By bringing together policymakers, Indigenous peoples, conservation experts, and local communities, this space will allow for the sharing of experiences and innovations in managing these ecosystems, raising awareness about the fragile state of reefs and promoting sustainable management practices.
By participating in COP16, MAR Fund and its initiatives will have a significant opportunity to foster collaboration, highlight the urgent need to protect coral reefs, and share their achievements with a global audience of policymakers, investors, and conservationists.
This conference not only supports environmental efforts but also promotes economic and social benefits for the region, facilitating key conversations that impact both regional and global environmental decisions. The previous conference, COP15, held in Montreal in December 2022, resulted in the historic “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” with over 195 countries committing to significant biodiversity goals, such as conserving 30% of terrestrial and marine areas, restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems, reducing pesticide risks, and mobilizing $200 billion annually for biodiversity protection.
Expectations for COP16 focus on accelerating these commitments and improving monitoring mechanisms to combat the ongoing biodiversity crisis.
With information from:
COP16 Colombia
ICRI-Cop16forcoral.org
GEF – COP16
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