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Knowledge Monitoring Protection of the Mesoamerican Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations

MAR Fish

A coordinated monitoring network of fish spawning aggregation (FSA) sites in the Mesoamerican Reef region (MAR).

The MAR Fish initiative is a collaborative and ecosystem-based regional network that aims to promote the recovery of fisheries by strengthening the network of fish spawning aggregations (FSA) sites, critical in the life cycle of commercial fish species, by advancing knowledge and understanding of the aggregation dynamics in the countries of the Mesoamerican Reef Region (MAR): Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Funded by the French Global Facility (FFEM in French) and by The Summit Foundation (TSF), Oceans 5, and Marisla Foundation, the initiative is implemented through the collaborative efforts of partner organizations in the MAR: Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI), Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Fundación para el Eco-Desarrollo y la Conservación FUNDAECO),Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP), Southern Environmental Association of Belize (SEA), and Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE).

Sites mapped in Cayman Crown and the southern Belize and Guatemalan reef regions
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FSA Sentinel sites monitored
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Communities in the Gulf of Honduras benefitted from economic diversification strategies
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Photography by: Patric Lengacher

Donor organizations

This project has been possible thanks to:

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Meet our Partners

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Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI)

COBI is a Mexican GO that specializes in working with fishers to co-create solutions to recover marine ecosystems and promote sustainable fisheries. Founded in 1999, COBI operates projects in the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Mesoamerican Reef.

Contenido del acordeón

  • Shared expertise on research, assessment, monitoring, and conservation of fish spawning aggregation sites in the Mexican Caribbean and monitoring protocols for spawning aggregation sites (as per the guide already produced by COBI).
  • Monitored the two sentinel sites along the Mexican MAR for five FSA seasons from 2019 to 2023.
  • Developed the status report of FSA research in the MAR region with a revision of historical data from catch data or fisher local knowledge, which indicates that 36 FSA sites were identified in the region of which 24 have confirmed spawning activity and 11 sites are suspected to be spawning sites. Also, 18 of the 24 confirmed sites are protected from fishing, with six additional sites also having temporal protection during spawning season.
  • Led the regional workshop to develop a common monitoring protocol and strategy.
  • Involved in the regional training on standard techniques and protocols for monitoring aggregations with partners to ensure the use of standardized monitoring protocols for fish spawning aggregation sites and sharing the information for the FSA database.
  • Led the regional data-sharing workshop with all partners in the region and participated in data analysis.
Visit: www.cobi.org.mx
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Fundación para el Eco-Desarrollo y la Conservación (FUNDAECO)

FUNDAECO is a Guatemalan organization dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable community development. Founded in 1990, FUNDAECO works in close collaboration with more than 200 rural communities across the country and supports over 20 protected areas at the national level. 

Contenido del acordeón

  • Promoted the protection of the Cayman Crown Reef in Guatemala through the establishment of a temporary 10-year closure zone (fully protected) in May 2020.
  • Leads the discussion process with authorities for the expansion of the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge to include the Cayman Crown reef.
  • Led a policy development process with key decision makers in Guatemala, submitted technical studies in support of the reserve declaration, and requested the co-management of the Cayman Crown area from Guatemala during its setup.
  • Participated in the collection of data necessary for the establishment of Cayman Crown and the management of the protected area.
  • Organized briefings with local fishing communities, tour operators and guides, municipalities, fisheries officers, and protected areas managers to reach awareness on natural resources and their conservation.
Visit: www.fundaeco.org.gt
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Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP)

HRHP is a coalition of member organizations (74 partner organizations from SCO, academia, private sector, and government agencies). HRHP is specialized in the monitoring and assessment of the health of the reef ecosystem.

Contenido del acordeón

  • Led the detailed mapping of the Cayman Crown area.

     

  • Led the ecological characterization of Cayman Crown’s coral reef (for potential MPA designation), focused primarily on the health and diversity of coral reef ecosystems, including corals, algae, fish, and other motile invertebrates.

     

  • Undertook technical studies that were used for MPA declaration, expansion or zoning, and management plans for the Cayman Crown reef (in Guatemala and Belize).

     

  • Trained and worked closely with FUNDAECO in Guatemala, TIDE in Belize, and CORAL in Honduras to implement monitoring protocols in the selected sentinel sites.

     

  • Participated in data analysis, and regional training on standard techniques and protocols for monitoring aggregations.

     

  • Helped make available regional fish spawning aggregation data from the sentinel sites through the online platform (AGRRA.org) and produced two reef health report cards with these data (2022 and 2024), along with the 2021 Eco-audit, and numerous media communications and workshops with decision-makers.
Visit: www.healthyreefs.org
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Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)

CORAL is an NGO committed to saving the world’s coral reefs through cutting-edge science and community engagement, through collaboration with local partners, to reduce direct threats to reefs, and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection. CORAL’s goal is to create a network of large, diverse, connected, and well-managed reefs. To achieve this goal, CORAL has programs in two critically important reef regions of the world: Hawaii and the Western Caribbean Region.

Contenido del acordeón

  • Characterized and monitored 4 potential spawning aggregations sites in Honduras from 2021 to 2023 and shared the information for the FSA database in collaboration with Roatan Marine Park.
  • Supported HRHP in mapping and evaluating the Cayman Crown area.
  • Collected and analyzed hydrophone and temperature data in FSA sights in Honduras.
  • Supported patrols for the protection of FSAs in Roatan.
  • Analyzed the impact of the Cayman Crown closure on fishing communities in Honduras.
  • Worked with local fishers throughout the North Coast of Honduras to create awareness of local FSAs and promote sustainable livelihood diversification options from the bottom up.
Visit: www.coral.org/es
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Southern Environmental Association of Belize (SEA)

SEA operates in eight communities: Placencia, Independence, Hopkins, Seine Bight, Riversdale, Monkey River, Punta Negra, and Punta Gorda. The organization co-manages two protected areas within Managed Access Fishing Area 3: Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, both in collaboration with the Government of Belize. Additionally, SEA is an active participant in the Belize Spawning Aggregations Working Group.

Contenido del acordeón

  • Monitored the Gladden Spit spawning aggregation site and shared the information for the FSA database.
  • Supported the characterization and monitoring of fish spawning aggregation in Cayman Crown.
  • Organized the regional training on standard techniques and protocols for monitoring fish aggregations.
Visit: www.seabelize.bz
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Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)

TIDE is one of the leading conservation NGOs in Belize. It focuses on community participation in resource management and sustainable use of ecosystems. It shares responsibility for co-management, in partnership with the Fisheries Department, of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR). It is also a founding and active member of the Belize Spawning Aggregations Working Group.

Contenido del acordeón

  • Leads the management of the recently declared replenishment zone Cayman Crown and the management of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, jointly with the Fisheries Department.
  • Works to have Cayman Crown designated as a fully protected no-take zone by the Belize Government.
  • Organized briefings with local fishing communities, tour operators and guides, municipalities, fisheries officers, and protected areas managers to reach awareness on natural resources and their conservation.
  • Led the policy development process with key decision makers in Belize, submitted technical studies, and negotiated co-management of the SCMR and Cayman Crown area.
  • Participates in the control and surveillance of the Cayman Crown Site.
Visit: www.tidebelize.org

Photography by: SEA

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