Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

• Enhance the management and governance of priority areas by addressing existing limitations (strengthening on-site infrastructure/equipment for patrolling, poaching control, developing capacity of staff)

Priority need addressed

COVID-19 related emergency. 

Project activities

Project objective: To reduce increased fishing and unsustainable fishing practices in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR) to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. 

The project includes six activities:

1. Reinstall pre-COVID Conservation Officer’s deployment schedule- supplement staff salaries in order to facilitate optimal staff deployment at the three staff bases. 
2. Procurement of a marine outboard engine along with tool kit for troubleshooting and maintenance for downed patrol boat.
3. Conduct regular and strategic patrols from the three bases stations at the TAMR.
4. Co-finance a third communication link or TASA’s northern conservation pot at Maugre in order to upload daily patrol data and weekly reports. 
5. Prepare a crisis communication plan- crisis communication refers to the technologies, systems and protocols that enable an organisation to effectively communicate during a major threat to its operations.
6. Implement crisis communication plan- execute the steps outlined in the plan. 

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

It’s very important that surveillance and monitoring efforts be conducted in tandem. It is not the intention to stop fishers from making their living. However, they must be made aware that there are ways to earn their living in a sustainable manner. 

The Rapid Response Grant will be used to:

1. Increase surveillance and monitoring of the TAMR, this will be done through reinstalling the pre-COVID Conservation Officer’s deployment schedule, repairing the downed patrol boat, conducting regular and strategic patrols, and co-financing a third communication link for TASA’s northern conservation post at Maugre in order to upload daily patrol data and weekly reports. 
2. Awareness of new and existing fishers – prepare a crisis communication plan and implement the plan through direct outreach to the fishers. 

Download the project infofiche

Implementing organisations

Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA)

Photo credits: © Valdemar Andrade for Turneffe Sustainability Association (TASA)

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