Empowering grassroots communities to protect their coastal seas in the biodiversity-rich Mesoamerican Reef by funding Rare’s Fish Forever programme
Rare’s Fish Forever is a unique programme that aims to protect and restore marine biodiversity by delivering durable change across the coastal developing tropics. These countries lie at the intersection of globally significant biodiversity hotspots and, high dependence on local fisheries for food security and rural livelihoods. Fish Forever links the establishment of fully protected reserves with the rights of local communities to fish in surrounding waters, thus making these communities the stewards of their marine area.
The coastal zones of Honduras and Guatemala are rich in coral reefs and mangrove forests. Not only that, these reefs provide larval replenishment for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – the world’s second largest barrier reef. Despite this richness of biodiversity, 60% of their rural population lives in poverty and their coastal villages depend on these ecosystems and local fisheries for food and employment.
As a result of The Becht Foundation funding, Rare will support local governments and coastal communities to effectively manage over 10,000 km2 of coastal waters and create 200 km2 of fully protected reserves to safeguard this biodiversity hotspot from threats of overfishing and empower local communities to manage these areas for a lasting change.
