Centre for Marine Ecology | Ecologia Marina

Current Research

FORCE Project

Small Scale Fisheries Management

One of the biggest challenges in the management of small scale fisheries is the lack of accurate information on the extent and scale of fishing activities. Working with fishing communities across five Central American countries CEM is pioneering a data collection network to improve our understanding of these important coastal fisheries. Find out more...

Sustainable Aquaculture

Commercial shrimp farming has a significant impact on the integrity of coastal systems, especially by replacing and fragmenting mangroves forests to form shrimp ponds. Working with small scale producers in the Gulf of Fonseca, CME is piloting changes to pond design and production techniques to mitigate these environmental impacts and reintegrate ponds into the surrounding mangroves. Find out more...

Fishing Gear's Impact Reduction

Many of the common fishing gears used by small scale fishers have negative effects on the sustainability of coastal fisheries. Working directly with fishermen CEM is testing changes to fishing gears that reduce specific impacts whilst actually enhancing the total catch value. Find out more...

Lobster Population Conectivity

The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), is the highest valued single species fishery of the Caribbean. However, lobster stock dynamics and possible meta-population connectivity remain poorly understood hindering regional management of this important resource. Find out more...

Conch Fisheries Management

Conch is a historically important coastal fishery in the Caribbean, but is now over exploited across much of their range. Devising effective cross boarder management strategies is essential to rehabilitate this fishery and restore their ecological function. Find out more...

Reef Monitoring

Understanding the changes that are taking place on coral reefs requires long term data with which to evaluate change. Our ongoing reef survey programme around the Bay Islands continues to collect a suite of health indicators on the islands coral reefs. Find out more...

Lionfish Control

The Lionfish (Pterois spp.) brings a new threat to the Caribbean, as voracious predators of crustaceans and juvenile fish. Around Utila CEM coordinated the lionfish control programme and investigating novel ways to tackle this invasive species. Find out more...

Fishing Economy

By integrating an understanding of market chains into conservation and management planning this programme aims to improve management efficacy and informed decision making by understanding how changes in the fishery affect people�s incomes both directly and indirectly. Find out more...

Shark Sanctuary

On 24th June 2011 Honduras declared its entire maritime waters as a "Shark Sanctuary". This provides legal protection to sharks from fishing and also prohibits trade in their parts or derivatives. This is an important step towards conserving these essential ocean predators and the centre is now working to develop management strategies for sharks that can help reduce their bi-catch by other fisheries, limit illegal trade and identify ways to expand their conservation to neighbouring countries in the region. Find out more...

No-Take Zones

Una importante oportunidad existe para cambiar la trayectoria de descenso de los recursos marinos en el Caribe. En Honduras, donde las pesquer�as de los arrecifes de coral est�n en crisis, los recursos costeros se enfrentan a un constante aluvi�n de amenazas locales y globales, y las autoridades encargadas de la conservaci�n de los recursos del pa�s permanecen sumidos en la inacci�n. Una nueva estrategia audaz est� emergiendo para formar de nuevo el paradigma de gesti�n de los recursos marinos a trav�s de la costa del Caribe. Find out more...

La Ola

Honduran fishermen's quarterly Magazine. Find out more...

PROJECT NEWS

Honduran fisheries department confront the lionfish invasion
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Posted 7/4/11

Annual shark kills "hit 100 million"
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Posted 4/3/13