Marine Protected Area - Dominican Republic

Background

The Dominican Republic, with its extensive coastline and diverse marine ecosystems, is committed to marine conservation and the sustainable development of its blue economy. Recognizing the importance of protecting its marine resources, the country has joined global initiatives like the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Partnership for Oceans, aiming to protect 30% of its seas by 2030. 

While the Dominican Republic has established a network of protected areas, further efforts are needed to reach the 30x30 goal. The country faces challenges related to overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices, which have led to the degradation of coral reefs and negatively impacted the livelihoods of artisanal fishers. 

The PROCARIBE+ Project aims to address these issues by promoting the implementation of no-take zones and sustainable fishing practices, recognizing the need to reconcile different uses of the coastal-marine environment and promote a thriving blue economy. The project will also support the management of the new Marine Sanctuary “Marino Orlando Jorge”, an ecologically valuable seamount system located in the Beata Ridge, an oceanic area shared between Colombia and the Dominican republic recognized for its intrinsic ecological importance. 

PROCARIBE+ Intervention:

The project will focus its work on marine conservation in the Dominican republic on the following areas:

1. Supporting the "Santuario Marino Orlando Jorge Mera": This marine sanctuary includes the Dominican part of the "Beata Ridge" seamount system, covering a vast area of 54,795 km².
2. Establishing fishery replenishment areas: Creating and implementing pilot "no-take" or fishery replenishment zones (FRZ), covering at least 35 km² of marine area. 

Key Activities:

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Dominican Republic, the Dominican Fisheries and Aquaculture Council (Codopesca) and other partners will work together to implement the following activities to be supported under the Procaribe+ Project:

• Santuario Marino Orlando Jorge Mera Management Plan:
  • Conducting in-situ monitoring to support management of MPA
  • Providing updated marine transit information
  • Participating in joint sea expeditions with Colombia to study pelagic fauna and temporality
  • Supporting consultations with relevant stakeholders and authorities
  • Acquiring technological equipment to facilitate management and monitoring.
  • Establishing a Binational Working Group with Colombia and the Dominican Republic to promote peer learning and best practices on oceanic MPAs.
• Fishery Replenishment Zones (FRZ):
  • Building capacity and raising awareness among local communities, authorities, and fishers on the importance of Fishery Replenishment Zones
  • Identifying and empowering social leaders to lead the declaration of FRZ
  • Developing proposals for establishing FRZ, including technical data collection
  • Establishing governance and management frameworks for new FRZ
  • Developing monitoring and surveillance plans, including baseline fish biomass assessments
  • Installing markers to delineate FRZ boundaries
  • Identifying alternative livelihoods for fishers, where applicable

Expected Benefits:

Improved Conservation of Marine Biodiversity: The project will contribute to the protection and restoration of critical marine habitats and species, including endangered and commercially valuable fish stocks.

Enhanced Sustainable Blue Economy: The project will promote the sustainable use of marine resources, supporting economic development while preserving the environment.

Strengthened Governance and Management: The project will support the development of an effective management plan and governance framework for the new Santuario Marino Orlando Jorge Mera, enhancing its effectiveness in protecting marine biodiversity.

Increased Resilience to Climate Change: The project will contribute to the resilience of marine ecosystems to climate change impacts, ensuring their continued health and productivity.