UK Ambassador visits coastal communities in Atlántida Seascape and highlights environmental cooperation
The UK Ambassador to Honduras, Juliana Correa, visited the Atlántida Seascape project from October 8 to 9.
Ambassador Correa and members of the Atlántida Seascape community
Ambassador Correa was accompanied by the six-NGO Seascape Partnership and community representatives, as part of two marine conservation initiatives supported by the British government: Darwin and OCEAN.
During the visit, the Ambassador toured marine protected areas and the fishing communities of Chachahuate and East End in the Cayos Cochinos Marine National Monument, Salado Barra in Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge and Dantillo in the unprotected “grey area” of the seascape.
She engaged in dialogue with Garifuna leaders, women’s groups and artisanal fishers, and participated in snorkelling and environmental hiking activities. The visit provided a first-hand look at progress in participatory marine governance, resilient livelihoods, poverty alleviation and coastal ecosystem protection, built on a foundation of the intrinsic link between nature and people.
Activities under the Darwin project focused on strengthening artisanal fisheries, improving responsible seafood value chains and facilitating community participation in marine resource management. The Ambassador engaged with community-run fish collection centres, women-led initiatives and actions to reduce coastal pollution. The project is led by Honduran NGO Fundación Cayos Cochinos and supported by the UK through the Darwin Initiative, which has allocated over £530,000 to strengthen ecological and socioeconomic resilience across 21 coastal communities.
The visit also offered insight into the early progress of the OCEAN project, led by international NGO Fauna &Flora with funding close to £3 million. This initiative aims to scale best practices in responsible fishing, improve incomes for fishing communities, tackle the insidious impacts of untreated wastewater and position Honduras as a regional leader in marine conservation.
Through the OCEAN project, the Seascape Partnership work with more than 7,500 households in 21 communities, promoting inclusive and climate-resilient business models, with special attention to the participation of women, young people and Garifuna groups in decision-making.
The Darwin Initiative is a UK government programme that funds projects to protect biodiversity and support vulnerable communities in developing countries. More information at Darwin Initiative.
The OCEAN initiative is a UK-funded programme that seeks to promote marine ecosystem recovery by strengthening artisanal fisheries and local governance in coastal communities. More information at OCEAN.