PROCARIBE+ is thrilled to announce that PROCARIBE+ is partnering with the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund) to develop a proposal to designate Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region!
Why is this important? The Mesoamerican Reef, recognized globally for its exceptional ecological value, is the largest coral reef system in the Atlantic Ocean, stretching more than 1,000 kilometers along the coastline of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The Mesoamerican Reef contributes more than USD 4.5 billion in various ecosystem benefits, providing coastal protection, and livelihoods to more than 2 million inhabitants. Despite its immense value, the region faces several threats, including potential damages by shipping activities. Assessing the possibility of designating strategically selected areas of the reef as PSSAs will contribute to reduce potential reef damage caused by shipping activities and enhance reef protection.
The importance of designating parts of the Mesoamerican Reef as PSSA was included in Article 7 of the Tulum Declaration signed by the governments of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize and states: "To jointly request the IMO to declare the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, in order to protect it from increased marine traffic in the area and with the aim of contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of the region; conservation should be harmonized with the needs of countries' international maritime traffic”.
Since then, preliminary work on the development of a PSSA proposal has been conducted by MAR Fund in consultation with governmental authorities and other partners from the MAR region. PROCARIBE+ will now build on this effort in collaboration with the MAR countries and key stakeholders like IMO, COCATRAM, the Coral Reef Alliance, and others.
Our goal: a comprehensive PSSA proposal that safeguards this vital marine treasure for the inhabitants of the wider Caribbean region and beyond.
Stay tuned for updates as we work towards a more resilient and protected Mesoamerican Reef!
