Tela Bay, Honduras has some of the healthiest corals along the Mesoamerican Reef, boasting an abundance of critically endangered species, averaging a high rate of coral cover, and providing an important source of coral larvae for the region. It’s why we work with local communities, scientists, and partners to protect Tela Bay and its natural… Continue Reading →
Did you know there’s a fish tank that produces tasty vegetables, can create economic opportunities, and helps protect coral reefs? It’s called an aquaponics system, and it combines aquaculture and hydroponics to raise fish and grow organic fruits and vegetables. An aquaponics system relies on a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants. Fish waste fertilizes… Continue Reading →
With an almost 500% increase in fish biomass, a successful “closed fishing season” in Tela Bay, Honduras is offering relief to both community fishers and nearby coral reefs. Recently, the proper funding and on-the-ground support has allowed the Tela community to effectively carry-out a two-month closed fishing season in coastal lagoons and enforce sustainable fishing… Continue Reading →
In Tela Honduras, a local farming project is helping to combat overfishing and repopulate the area’s vital coral reefs. The initiative supports local efforts that utilize alternative sources of food and income, in order to support a coastal community that is highly dependent on fishing. Our financial support, along with assistance from Tela’s environmental committee,… Continue Reading →
After more than 25 years of coral reef conservation work, we’ve celebrated many successes and evaluated lessons learned. We firmly believe that by sharing our gained knowledge, we will reach new communities in the world and help implement actions that protect coral reefs. In recent educational videos, Dr. Antonella Rivera, CORAL’s Principle Investigator in Tegucigalpa,… Continue Reading →
Tela Bay, Honduras—Recent monitoring data collected from Los Micos Lagoon demonstrated a 483 percent increase in fish biomass after a closed fishing season in 2021, signifying both higher quantities and larger sizes of fish. Likewise, it showed an increase in diversity of species and trophic levels. Los Micos Lagoon often suffers from overfishing, impacting populations… Continue Reading →
Lea esto en español When Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) researchers first began working with fisheries on the North Coast of Honduras, they encountered an all-too-common dynamic: Local fishers held a wealth of knowledge of the various fish species of the region, but that information wasn’t documented anywhere. The local knowledge is passed down from generation… Continue Reading →
Lea esto en español During a recent interview, Dr. Antonella Rivera, CORAL’s Principal Investigator in Honduras, perfectly summed up our approach to conservation: “If we really want to make a difference with science, we have to involve the people who are most affected.” People and communities are always at the forefront of our work to… Continue Reading →
In 2018, a law passed that opened up parts of the Honduran North Coast to commercial fishing—prior, only artisanal fishers were able to fish within certain areas. While some of the coastline lies within marine protected areas (MPAs), we suspected that fish populations along the coastline were all connected. If the MPAs weren’t somehow connected,… Continue Reading →