The government of Panama is making huge waves for marine conservation by doubling its ocean area under protection.
In June, the Central American country committed to expanding the Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resources Area — Panama’s largest marine protected area — by 50,518 square kilometers (19,505 square miles). It will now span 98,228 square kilometers (37,926 square miles), larger than Panama’s land size.
The area will now protect a series of underwater mountains, which provide feeding and breeding grounds for a variety of highly migratory threatened species, including sea turtles, sharks, sea lions and whales.
Experts say this expansion is crucial to helping the region recover depleted fish populations, which face threats from illegal fishing and climate change. The Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resources Area will also establish systems for effective surveillance and enforcement of illegal fishing activities, with support from the Blue Nature Alliance — a global partnership co-led by Conservation International that aims to help double the current amount of ocean area under protection.
“With this commitment, Panama becomes one of the few countries in the world to protect at least 30 percent of its waters — a global target many scientists say humanity must achieve by 2030 to secure the long-term health of our planet,” said ‘Aulani Wilhelm, senior vice president of oceans at Conservation International.
Even better, noted Wilhelm, at least 66 percent of this area will be highly protected, disallowing extractive activities such as mining. According to the Panamanian government, the remaining third of the area will allow sustainable fishing.
Backed by Mission Blue and the Wyss Foundation, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and MigraMar built the scientific case for expanding the Cordillera de Coiba Managed Resources Area. The Blue Nature Alliance will work with partners at SkyLight to help ensure these new protections are enforced.
2021 Conservation International