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Sustainable Pacific: An integrated approach to marine biodiversity conservation

Strengthening marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices across the Pacific Central American Coastal Large Marine Ecosystem (PACA LME)

By IW:LEARN

June 7^th, 2024

Conservation and management of billfish recreational fisheries

Billfish, such as sailfish and marlin, are known for their distinctive spear-like snout, which they use to capture prey. These fish are highly valued by sport and recreational fishers and play a crucial role in the balance of the marine pelagic ecosystem. Nevertheless, regional conservation and management measures specific to these species are lacking, and the scarcity of data makes their protection difficult.

Catch-and-release recreational fishing presents a sustainable option, as it helps maintain billfish populations and promotes marine tourism. In the Central American Coastal Pacific region, the main destinations for this activity are Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama.

This form of fishing generates significantly higher revenue than commercial fishing.

This pilot project, implemented by the Organization of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of Central America (OSPESCA, by its Spanish acronym) aims to collect data and generate knowledge to support decision-making in the development of recreational billfish fishing in the region. This project could demonstrate how economic activities can contribute to local development while coexisting with conservation efforts, benefiting both biodiversity and local economies.

Sailfish leaping out of water. Photo: Wirestock_Creators

Humpback whales surfacing by a boat, aerial view. Photo: natureplcom Mark Carwardine WWF

Whale conservation and tourism

Humpback whales, essential for marine biodiversity in PACA LME, migrate from high-latitude feeding areas to warm-water breeding areas from Mexico to Ecuador. They are an important tourist attraction, generating significant income for coastal economies and raising awareness about marine conservation.

Nonetheless, whales face threats like entanglement in fishing gear, marine pollution, underwater noise, and vessel collisions. Additionally, unregulated whale-watching tourism can cause stress and behavioral changes in whales, affecting their reproduction and survival.

This pilot project will be implemented in Panama by MarViva and Panacetacea and seeks to improve whale-watching practices, by collecting data on the underwater soundscape and training of whale-watching tour operators. The goal is to create regional guidelines, foster cross-border cooperation, protect whales along their migratory routes, and promote sustainable tourism.

Marine Spatial Planning

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a crucial tool for sustainable blue growth, facilitating the development of ocean-dependent sectors like fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and protected areas. With increasing competition for space and limited biodiversity resources, MSP helps balance ecological, economic, and social objectives. By 2030, around one-third of the world’s exclusive economic zones are expected to have government-approved MSP plans.

In the PACA LME region, MSP will be essential for effective management, although countries have different levels of experience with it. Some countries, like Costa Rica and Ecuador, have related policy instruments, while Mexico has established MSP legislation and procedures.

This pilot project aims to generate practical experience in MSP, to support its implementation in the region. It will be conducted in four locations: Mexico (implemented by LANCIS-UNAM), Costa Rica (Organization of Tropical Studies), Panama (MarViva) and Ecuador (Conservation International). The insights gained will inform regional MSP guidelines, which will be presented to relevant authorities.

Sustainable Pacific team member during whale watching activity. Photo: WWF Mesoamerica.

Humpback whale calf injured with mother. Photo: natureplcom Tony Wu WWF

Development of a Collaborative Information System

To ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, the Sustainable Pacific countries are developing a collaborative information system. This system will facilitate accurate assessments of the environmental health and socioeconomic status of PACA LME, enabling effective and shared management of marine biodiversity. Collaboration among various regional actors is crucial for updating and sharing data to support evidence-based decision-making, strengthening the region's capacity for effective conservation of marine resources.

Thus far, Sustainable Pacific has identified 47 indicators, grouped into four dimensions: People (6 indicators), Prosperity (10 indicators), Coasts and Seas (7 indicators), and Governance (6 indicators). Two transversal dimensions were also included: Gender and inclusion (8 indicators) and Global Warming (11 indicators). This categorization was based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), incorporating the perspective of the countries and organizations that participated in this process.

Through innovative projects, the adoption of collaborative systems, and the dissemination of lessons learned, Sustainable Pacific establishes a model with a significant impact on the conservation of biodiversity in the PACA LME. This collective effort is vital for transforming regional agreements into concrete actions that preserve biodiversity for future generations, showcasing the power of cooperation in environmental management and sustainable development.

Please stay tuned for updates on the implementation of Sustainable Pacific, as we enter the second of four implementation years.

Regional Workshop on Indicators Review for the Collaborative Information System. Photo: WWF Mesoamerica.

About the project

Sustainable Pacific (pacificosostenible.org) is a regional initiative implemented by UNDP through the executing partner WWF and funded by the GEF. It addresses the protection and management of the Pacific Central American Coastal Large Marine Ecosystem (PACA LME), a region covering over 1.9 million km² of near and offshore waters from central-south Mexico to northern Peru. Currently, seven countries are participating in Sustainable Pacific, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. This regional project promotes the sustainable use of marine resources in this valuable region, and pays special attention to key species, through pilot projects that can serve as models for future initiatives. These pilot projects allow for extracting lessons learned, and the potential replication and scaling up of successful approaches.