We provided scientific information supporting the creation of the Cayman Crown no-fishing zone in Guatemala and for the expansion of Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve in Belize to include and protect Cayman Crown, Belize.
Project Summary:
HRHP has led conservation efforts on the Cayman Crown Reef since its discovery in 2013. The project focuses on exploring and monitoring the reef to establish a scientific knowledge base that guides effective management. Key activities included detailed mapping, reef health monitoring, acoustic monitoring of fish spawning aggregations, and tracking changes in water temperature and bleaching impacts.
A critical component of this grant involved the comprehensive characterization of the Cayman Crown Reef, an effort that required extensive exploration and data collection across this vital ecosystem. Data collection spanned 148 sites, utilizing advanced tools like habitat maps and bathymetry. This helped identify and validate key coral reef areas, reef walls, and deep zones, and even led to the discovery of new sites. Each site's information, including details on reef area, location, depth, and the methods used to explore it, whether through scuba diving, freediving, or using a drop-down camera was meticulously documented. We partnered with Purkis Partnership to develop the first benthic habitat map for the Cayman Crown and Guatemala’s Caribbean region.
Reef health monitoring was conducted at four permanent sites, focusing on coral cover, diversity, and other ecological factors. Data was gathered using the AGRRA methodology, along with bleaching and temperature measurements, to track changes over time and maintain a visual record of reef conditions.
Communication efforts raised awareness of the reef’s importance via social media, webinars, and reports, reaching a wide audience. The project also successfully advocated for legal protections in both Guatemala and Belize. In Guatemala, the reef was declared a no-take zone, protecting 202.59 km². In Belize, the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve was expanded to 1,301.6 km², with a fully protected zone covering 131.5 km². These actions ensure long-term protection of this vital marine ecosystem.