MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

The Sandy Bay West End Marine Park extends from the high tide line to 60 meters in depth and spans a total of 13 km of coast. Its southwest border terminates at Key Hole, while its eastern border extends to Crawfish Rock Point. The Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), a local nonprofit NGO was given legal management authority of the reserve in 1992, by the Honduran Forestry Corporation (COHDEFOR). BICA's current management contract is due to expire in November 2006.

Currently, the Environmental Management Program of the Bay Islands (PMAIB) is pushing for 12 areas to be declared as protected by the Honduran Congress, six of which are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).   With these new declarations, the SBWEMP will increase its area and receive a Congressional Decree, a higher status than it currently holds. Once these areas are approved, local actors and municipalities will be responsible for holding public meetings in which management plans and regulations will be approved.

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