PROCARIBE+

Support for the Creation of Fisheries Recovery Zones in the Mesoamerican Reef System

Photo: Martin Leglize

MAR Fund, with the support of the program “Protect and restore the natural capital of the oceans, increase resilience and support investments across the region for sustainable blue socioeconomic development” (PROCARIBE+) – implemented by UNDP, GEF, and UNOPS –, drives the creation and strengthening of Fisheries Recovery Zones (FRZ) in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The project seeks to conserve marine biodiversity and promote the sustainability of fisheries in the Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS), one of the most important ecosystems in the Caribbean.

General Objective

Strengthen the conservation of the MRS and its associated resources through the establishment and improvement of FRZs, promoting the protection of strategic areas for biodiversity and fisheries sustainability.

Specific Objectives

Establish new FRZs in areas with enabling conditions.
Expand and improve the management of existing FRZs.
Strengthen local capacities through participatory monitoring and adaptive management strategies.
Protect key biodiversity areas, such as fish spawning aggregation zones.

Expected Results

Establish and manage approximately 35 km² of Fisheries Recovery Zones (FRZ) in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, strengthening the sustainability of marine resources in the MRS.

Exchange best practices and lessons learned about MRS FRZs with the Dominican Republic, strengthening technical knowledge on fishery management at the regional level.

Communicate and disseminate the importance of FRZs for fisheries restoration in the MRS region.

Photo: Martin Leglize

Project Activities

Provide funding to organizations in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras to implement projects focused on promoting the establishment, expansion, and management of FRZs.

Coordinate and implement an exchange of experiences with the Dominican Republic on FRZs.

Organize and implement five webinars in coordination with local organizations.

Develop communication materials to disseminate project progress.

Active Projects

Project Map - MAR Fund

Photo: Judith Morales