BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MARINE PARK

Residents of the Bay Islands have relied on the natural resources found offshore for many decades. Today, in addition to having great biological importance, the reefs of Roatán are now the island's major tourist attraction.

In 1969 it was estimated that around 900 tourists visited Roatán for marine recreation. By 1992 that number was up to 17,000. Today, the number of tourists visiting these islands annually has reached a staggering 250,000. This figure will continue escalating due to increased access via direct flights from America and Europe as well as an increased number of cruise ships which will deliver an estimated 225,000 cruise shippers in 2007 alone. Growing concern over the future of the reef and the islander's livelihoods impelled members of the Sandy Bay community to take action.

In 1988 the community united and proposed the creation of a managed marine reserve to protect the shoreline and marine habitats in the waters adjacent to its shore. In April of 1989, the Sandy Bay Marine Reserve (SBMR) was officially designated. The original reserve encompassed an area of about 6 km between Lawson's Rock and Gibson Bight.

In 1992 the Bay Island's Conservation Association (BICA) was elected to supervise the administration and management of the reserve. In September of 1993, the communities of West End and West Bay agreed to extend the SBMR from Gibson Bight all the way around to the western tip of the island, to an area known as Key Hole on the south side. It currently encompasses 13 km of reefs from the shoreline to a depth of 60 meters.

Recently, however, after serious concerns for the lack of formal management, the lack of government support at national and local levels, the increase in marine recreation activity and the consequences of unprecedented and often unregulated coastal development, the local diving community in Sandy Bay, West End and West Bay took matters into their own hands.

Joining together in a collaborative effort with the objective to tackle some of these problems, specifically over-fishing and poaching, the Marine Park Group was created, and the reserve was transformed into the Sandy Bay West End Marine Park. Initially financial contributions from local dive shops and businesses funded the purchase of 2 boats, engines and paid the salaries of 4 employees. Each boat was staffed with a boat captain and a local police officer.  Currently, the SBWEMP employs 11 members of staff and has matured from an idea into a reality within a short time. Since this initiative began in January 2005, there has been a substantial increase in the number of conch and lobster observed on the reef and a noticeable decrease in the amount of poaching and spear fishing.

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