Marine Spatial Planning - Mesoamerican Reef

Background

A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is a marine area requiring special protection due to its ecological, socio-economic, or scientific significance and vulnerability to damage from international shipping. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) grants this designation to help safeguard critical areas worldwide.

In the wider Caribbean Region, three areas have been recognized as PSSAs so far: Cuba’s Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (1997), the Florida Keys (USA, 2002), and the Saba Bank (Netherlands, 2012). However, one of the most ecologically valuable and vulnerable regions—the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR)—remains unprotected from growing maritime risks. As the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, the MAR is a biodiversity hotspot supporting countless marine species and coastal communities, yet increased maritime traffic poses threats such as pollution, groundings, and habitat degradation.

                                                                                      Photo: Maria del Carmen Garcia

To address these risks, the Tulum Declaration, signed by Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize in 1997, and renewed in 2006, calls for joint efforts to request the IMO to designate the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System as a PSSA.  This would strengthen protections for the reef while balancing the needs of sustainable maritime trade. Initial steps have already been taken, including baseline data collection, development of geospatial databases, and risk assessments, along with early consultations with MAR countries. However, further collaboration and stakeholder engagement are needed to refine the proposal and secure regional and international support. Advancing the PSSA designation process would help ensure the long-term protection of the Mesoamerican Reef, safeguarding both marine biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it.

Since 2020, MAR Fund is working with national government authorities to plan for the submission of a proposal to designate PSSAs in the MAR Region. In coordination with key stakeholders and collaboration with organizations like the Central American Maritime Transport Commission (COCATRAM) and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), MAR Fund commissioned technical analyses, and facilitated communications with key government authorities and IMO.  

PROCARIBE+ Intervention:

The PROCARIBE+ Project will build on and complement ongoing efforts to develop a proposal for IMO designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) in the Mesoamerican Reef region, aiming at reducing the risks of maritime activities in this unique and globally significant region. 

MAR Fund will lead this effort, building on its previous work and collaborating closely with relevant partners and authorities from MAR countries to develop a comprehensive submission package in accordance with IMO guidelines and requirements for designating a strategically selected part of the MAR as a PSSA.

                                                                                       Photo: Maria del Carmen Garcia

Key Activities:

MAR Fund will lead key activities to elaborate and submit  a comprehensive, well-supported proposal for the PSSA designation of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR), in close coordination with COCATRAM and key partners in the MAR. These include:

• Updating the initial PSSA Proposal with new biological, socio-economic data, and navigation routes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: A consultation process with key stakeholders, including governmental authorities and regional bodies, to ensure alignment and secure buy-in.
• Strategic Alliances: Establishing a MAR PSSA task force and maintaining communication with NGOs (e.g., CORAL, Health Reef for Healthy People, Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA)) to secure support and identify protective measures.
• Technical and Legal Support: Hiring experts to gather information and elaborate the proposal,, ensure IMO compliance, and provide legal support for submission.
• GIS and Mapping: Developing maps for sensitive areas, wildlife distribution, protected areas, and navigation routes.
• National and Regional Consultations: Holding workshops and meetings with authorities to validate the proposal and protective measures.
• Finalizing the Proposal: Preparing the full submission package, including maps, charts, videos, and presentations, for submission to the IMO.
• Communication and Advocacy: Developing fact sheets, videos, webinars, and organizing a “twinning” activity with other regions to share best practices and mobilize support

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Anticipated Benefits of the PSSA Process:

The move towards designating a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) for the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region will offer significant benefits, particularly in safeguarding this vital ecosystem from the increasing pressures of marine traffic. With formal PSSA designation, part of the MAR will receive enhanced protection. By aligning conservation efforts with the needs of international maritime traffic, this designation ensures that both environmental protection and sustainable development are achieved. Ultimately, the PSSA process will strengthen the long-term resilience of the MAR, preserving its ecological integrity while promoting sustainable use by local communities and stakeholders. 

                                                                                          Photo: Maria del Carmen Garcia