Abstract

Selected marine protected areas (MPAs) within coral reef environments have been shown to increase local fisheries yields. The UK based NGO Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), carried out baseline biological surveys across twelve patch reefs within Ascension Bay, UNESCO Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan, Mexico. The Bay is managed and exploited by Pescadores de Vigia Chico (PVC), an exemplary managed community-based fishing cooperative, targeting spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus). Results from the baseline surveys were analysed using a method developed to assess an area of reef and assigned a simple relative conservation management value rating, designed to be used and interpreted at the community level. Each of the twelve sites was assigned a “high”, “medium”, or “low” relative conservation management value rating dependent on six variables, such as coral and fish species richness and diversity. Two sites recording “high” were recommended to PVC to be managed as small community managed MPAs, with results and recommenda-tions disseminated through a series of workshops and presentations within the community, and to other stakeholders.

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