Mexican Coral Reef Update Report

1. Mexican Coral Reef Update Report

2. International • Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) • Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico • MPA Management: A management effectiveness program is being prepared. • Environmental Information System: The EIS network is being installed and personnel are being trained in it’s use. • Tourism and Fisheries for Sustainable Development: Monitoring of egg laying aggregation sites. Ecotourism training for local communities, conduct codes, best practices catalog, Blue Flag pilot program for selected beaches.

3. In 2003 the user fee is now being applied in other MPA’s and Coastal protected areas, such as Loreto, Ria Lagartos, Ria Celestun, El Vizcaíno, and the Gulf of California Islands, and for the first time also in terrestrial protected areas (one dolar per person per day). The fee has gained acceptance amongst tour operators and public in general. During 2003 (Jan-Oct) 19.1 million pesos have been collected (almost 2 million USD) which represents a significant increase compared with 13.5 million pesos collected in 2002.

4. Revenues are being applied on: staff, equipment, operational expenses, environmental inspectors, lawyers. In 2004, this fee will also begin application in Huatulco, Cabo Pulmo, Banco Chinchorro, and Xcalak, in order to comply 100% with the protected areas covered in the law. CONANP will evaluate the feasibility of the use of different quotas in reef MPAs, according to the reef’s degree of conservation, tourism use and impact, and the socio-economic level of tourists.

5. CONANP Regional Administration • As a part of the national regional administrative program, all areas in the Yucatan Peninsula are now integrated into one coordinating office. • The 8 coral reef MPA’s in the peninsula now have a regional approach to monitoring, research, species migration and ecosystems. • Ecosystems are now being managed from a regional and coastal management point of view.

6. MPA Reports

7. REEF PROTECTED AREAS OF QUINTANA ROO AND YUCATÁN • Successful restoration project for Manchones reef in Cancun. • Methodology for MBRS monitoring of mangroves, sea grasses, benthic communities and reef fish has been established. • Agreements with NGO’s and academic institutions to begin regional monitoring of water quality, marine pollution, reef fish aggregations, mangroves and sea grasses. • A protocol with PROFEPA established to attend ship groundings • Collected fines are being applied on conservation programs in various MPA’s.

8. SIAN KAAN REEFS BIOSPHERE RESERVE • Results of the WCPA – Marine / WWF MPA Management Effectiveness Initiative: • Capture recuperation of commercial species primarily for the Punta Allen community primarily due to productive diversification of fishermen now involved in ecotourism services. • Development of ecotourism activities is a result of the reserve’s education and training programs instituted for more than 7 years. • The increase of regulations for tourism activities has created a certain degree of confusion. Communication between users and the biosphere reserve’s administration requires a special emphasis.

9. Cabo Pulmo National Park and APPF Cabo San Lucas • Agreement with the NGO ”Amigos para la Conservación de Cabo Pulmo” and with “Propenínsula” based in San Diego, CA, to estabish joint action programs for: • Protección of marine turtle nests. • Hawksville turtle population monitoring. • Environmental Education programs for the main towns in the region. • Beginning of the coral reef monitoring program. • Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve • Operational field station in place • Permanent navy and park personnel presence • MBRS funds applied for equipment

10. Cozumel Reefs National Park • REEF.- 5 Training courses, 37 volunteers trained, 711 registered fish counts • TNC 5 S’s Site Conservation Workshop with researchers, local authorities, community leaders, fishermen and dive operators • Some algal blooms reported • Advisory board bylaws established • Local Agenda 21 workgroup established • Huatulco Bay National Park • Agreement with fishermen co-ops for sustainable use of fish resources: lung diving lobster catch permits, establishment of fishing areas and permited fishing gear • Establishment of tourism optons for fishermen • Fisheries order plan established with local and federal authorities. • Application for RAMSAR designation. • UNAM, UAM and ECOSUR ecological diagnosis of the Huatulco Bays marine area.

11. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CORAL REEFS OF MEXICO (STACM).

12. Work meeting in june 26-27 and nov 10-11, 2003 in Puerto Angel, Oaxaca. The principal activities were: • Change of presidents: Gerardo Leyte to Jose Carriquiry. • Change of members: Hector Reyes, Juan G. Díaz y Andrés López to Roberto Iglesias, Juan P. Carricart, and Horacio Pérez (Atlantic Committee) and new members of the Pacific Committee: Guillermo Aramburu, Luis Calderón and Luz María Hernández. • Dredging norm reviewed. • National Coarl Reef Monitoring Program. Three work groups focusing on Benthos, Fish and Pollution.

13. Promotion of the II Mexican Coral Reef Symposium, which it’s main goal was to build up a scientific forum to discuss and promote research. It also included the participation of protected natural area managers, NGO’s and students. The simposium was held by the Universidad del Mar in November 5-7, 2003. Updated information is available at http://www.umar.mx/arrecifes/index.html. Promote the creation of the Mexican Society of Coral Reefs. This iniciative is actually hosted by the official web site of the STACM http://www.coccytac.ibecmx.org/somac and the first meeting of the Society will be during the II Mexican Coral Reef Symposium. Internet page http://www.coccytac.ibecmx.org/ now includes information about STACM, members, activities, announcements and links.