Fishing for the Future

Sustainable Fisheries for a Healthy Reef

Photo: COBI

The fishing communities of the MAR depend on marine resources for their food security. However, overfishing and the degradation of spawning sites threaten both the local economy and the health of the reef.

Fishing for the Future focuses on supporting community participation in the co-management of fisheries in the MAR. Its goal is to promote the recovery of commercial fish populations through the protection of key fish spawning aggregation sites, and the strengthening of sustainable marine resource management strategies.

Photo: GOAL

Results to Date:

sites monitored through
the MAR Fish project

0

countries in parallel collaboration for the legal protection of the Caiman Crown Reef

0 km²

of no-take zones (2025–2027), as part of efforts in fisheries recovery zones (FRZ)

Photo: Sergio David Hernández

Initiatives:

MAR Fish

Photo: Patric Lengacher
A collaborative network for the monitoring, protection and knowledge of fish spawning aggregations in the Mesoamerican Reef.

Funded by the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), The Summit Foundation (TSF), Oceans 5, and the Marisla Foundation, the initiative is implemented through the collaborative efforts of partner organizations in the MAR:

Community and Biodiversity (COBI), Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Foundation for Eco-Development and Conservation (FUNDAECO), Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP), Southern Environmental Association of Belize (SEA), and Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE).

Visit the MAR Fish page

PROCARIBE +

Photo: Minerva Rosette
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 (MAR), one of the most important ecosystems in the Caribbean.

Learn more about PROCARIBE+

Community Projects (Global Giving)

Lionfish Control

Photo: David Penados

Empowerment of Fishing Communities

Photo: Agustín Wolff

Taller inicial de la 2ª. convocatoria

Del 1 al 3 de julio de 2025, se llevó a cabo en Ciudad de Guatemala el Taller Inicial para los proyectos seleccionados en la segunda convocatoria del proyecto «Protección de los Recursos Marítimos en América Central III (Fase III)”, una iniciativa financiada por la Cooperación Alemana a través del KfW, en el marco del programa Salvando Nuestras Áreas Protegidas de MAR Fund.

Durante tres días, 31 representantes técnicos y administrativos de 16 áreas protegidas marino costeras de México, Belice, Guatemala y Honduras se reunieron para fortalecer capacidades, intercambiar experiencias y alinear estrategias para una implementación efectiva y coordinada de sus proyectos.

También participaron organizaciones de sociedad civil que acompañarán la ejecución de estos proyectos.

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