Company Helps Create and Manage MPAs in Caribbean

Resort company helps designate MPA in Jamaica; has plans for more through out the Caribbean

Sandals Resorts International, which operates 22 coastal resorts throughout the Caribbean under the Sandals and Beaches brand names, has partnered with the Jamaican government to designate a no-take marine reserve in waters adjacent to the Beaches Boscobel resort.  The MPA, called the Boscobel Fish Sanctuary, is roughly 1 km2 in area.  It will be patrolled by the resort's water sports crew, which will include a warden.  The goals of the MPA are to curb damage to coral reefs from fishing and restore marine life populations.
Fishing is the only activity banned in the sanctuary; the site will remain open to snorkeling and other resort activities.  Previously there was trap fishing and spearfishing in the area by local fishers, says Heidi Clarke of Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts.  "The idea will be to work with the fishermen and the community to educate them as to the importance of this area," says Clarke.  Sandals Foundation aims to help designate similar no-take areas at each of its resorts.  More information on the new sanctuary is at www.sandalsfoundation.org/newsEvents/NewMarineSanctuary.cfm.