Abstract

ARDISSON, Pedro-Luis; MAY-KU, Marco Antonio; HERRERA-DORANTES, María Teresa  and  ARELLANO-GUILLERMO, Alfredo. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System-Mexico: considerations for its designation as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area. Hidrobiológica [online]. 2011, vol.21, n.3, pp.261-280. ISSN 0188-8897.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) extends over 1,000 km along the Caribbean Sea of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. From 1997 onwards these four countries have considered an initiative to designate the MBRS as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The purpose of the initiative is to protect the MBRS against the negative effects of international shipping activities. Such designation would also constitute a mechanism to facilitate conservation and sustainable use of the region's resources. This paper provides a summary of the available information about ecological, socio-economic and shipping activities in the Mexican portion of the MBRS (State of Quintana Roo) that might contribute to the joint countries effort by identifying strengths and weaknesses in complying with the guidelines established by IMO to designate the area as a PSSA.

Keywords : Caribbean; Coral Reefs; IMO; MBRS; PSSA.