MPAConnect

Since 2010, this partnership between the U.S. There is much experience to share between Caribbean MPAs.

GCFI, NOAA and 32 Caribbean Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas, networking to increase the effectiveness of MPA management through sharing, best practice and experiences. MPAConnect is a learning network of MPA managers and professionals in the Caribbean that works to increase the effectiveness of MPA management by addressing specific capacity needs of individual MPAs through a variety of means, in

cluding regional peer to peer workshops, site-specific technical support, learning exchanges and direct grant funding. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through their Coral Reef Conservation Program, and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) has addressed MPA management capacity by building a network of some 32 MPAs from 11 countries and territories in the Wider Caribbean region. The capacity building initiatives by MPAConnect are founded on a management capacity tool that translates day-to-day management challenges into targeted capacity building approaches to help MPA managers meet conservation commitments. Based on detailed assessments in 2011 and 2017 which apply a specialized tool for facilitated self-evaluation of management capacity by MPA managers, the initiative works to understand and address capacity as related to 20 distinct elements of effective MPA management programs. The MPAConnect approach to capacity building is to facilitate peer to peer learning in the region by strategically targeting the highest priority management needs identified by managers through the assessment process. To date the partnership has helped MPAs increase their management capacity on top priority needs, while also following up on site-specific management capacity needs and establishing a close-knit network between coral reef MPA managers and organizations with MPA management expertise. Mentor sites that recorded Tier 3 for capacity in the 2011 MPA management capacity assessment made excellent contributions to building capacity among their peers at the regional peer-to-peer workshops. MPAConnect includes a network of knowledgeable and experienced MPA mentors – regional MPA go-to people who stand ready to share their experience and provide guidance in the face of common challenges to effective MPA management.

03/27/2026

Across the Caribbean, MPAs are vital for sustaining fisheries that communities depend on every day. But protection on paper isn’t enough - effective enforcement and sustainable fishing practices are what turn goals into real impact.

Enforcement plays a critical role, ensuring that rules are respected, illegal fishing is reduced, and benefits are shared fairly across the Caribbean network.

At MPAConnect, we believe that sustainable fisheries and strong enforcement go hand in hand. Together, they help MPAs deliver lasting benefits for both people and the ocean.

03/25/2026

In the Caribbean MPAs are on the frontlines of climate change. But resilience isn’t built on good intentions alone… it requires sustainable, long-term funding.

Reliable financing ensures that MPAs can: •Support consistent management and enforcement
•Invest in climate adaptation and restoration
•Empower local communities and livelihoods
•Monitor and respond to environmental change

Without stable funding, even the most well-designed MPAs struggle to deliver impact, especially in a region as climate-vulnerable as the Caribbean.

💬 What funding solutions do you think hold the most promise for ocean resilience?

03/23/2026

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are often seen as lines on a map, but their true strength lies in the people behind them.

Effective MPA management isn’t just about science, policy, or enforcement. It’s about human connection: engaging local communities, empowering stakeholders, and building trust between those who depend on the ocean and those working to protect it.

When communities are included in decision-making, we believe that MPAs become more than protected zones. They become shared commitments. This leads to stronger compliance, richer local knowledge integration, and long-term sustainability.

03/19/2026

Spending time learning alongside organizations like TIDE, BAS, the Fisheries Department, and TASA in Belize last year, showed just how powerful shared knowledge and community-driven conservation can be. Different approaches, one common goal: protecting our marine spaces for generations to come.

We returned inspired, energized, and full of ideas on how we can push our work further, think differently, and lead with purpose across the region.

02/26/2026

The enduring partnership between TIDE Belize and MPAConnect represents a sustained commitment to improving marine protected area management strengthening conservation outcomes for Belize and the wider region.

The TIDE Belize–MPAConnect partnership has achieved significant milestones, including enhanced management planning processes, improved monitoring frameworks, strengthened enforcement capacity, and increased regional collaboration. These accomplishments reflect a shared commitment to long-term sustainability and effective marine conservation.

01/30/2026

In global times like these, we know conservation isn’t always seen as the most urgent priority. Budgets tighten, pressures grow, and the work can feel heavy.

But to our MPAConnect network, what you do matters deeply. Every patrol, every plan, every conversation with a community is an investment in something that gives back: food security, coastal protection, livelihoods, cultural identity, and hope for future generations.

The ecosystems you protect will continue to protect people in return. Even when the value isn’t immediately visible, it is real, lasting, and essential.

Thank you for showing up for nature, and for people, every day. You are doing important work, and you are not doing it alone.

01/26/2026

If you’re a new follower to , welcome!

We would like to re-introduce Emma Doyle…

01/23/2026

In conservation, standing still means falling behind. That’s why being two steps ahead in sustainable financing matters.

For marine and coastal protected areas to thrive long-term, funding must be resilient, diversified, and future-focused. From enforcement and monitoring to community engagement and climate adaptation, sustainable financing keeps protection working where it matters most.

At MPAConnect, we support our network with access to tools, guidance, and shared resources that help partners plan smarter, adapt faster, and strengthen financial sustainability. By learning together and investing ahead of the curve, we help ensure protected areas are prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.

# GCFI

01/21/2026

What happens on land doesn’t stop at the shoreline. Forests, wetlands, and mangroves filter water, reduce sediment, and protect reefs and seagrass offshore. In return, healthy marine ecosystems buffer coastlines from storms, support fisheries, and sustain livelihoods and food security for communities.

These connected protected areas provide vital ecosystem services: clean water, coastal protection, climate resilience, and cultural value, that people depend on every day.

Protecting one without the other leaves gaps. Protecting both creates balance.

01/19/2026

Turtle nesting season is underway across the Caribbean, and this critical time is where awareness and enforcement meet.

Sea turtles need safe, undisturbed spaces to nest and hatch successfully. Community awareness helps reduce lighting, beach disturbance, and poaching, while on-the-ground and in-water enforcement ensures nesting sites are respected and protected.

MPAConnect supports our partners with the tools, training, and coordination needed to strengthen both sides of conservation. From improving patrol capacity to supporting education and outreach, we help ensure that protection is more than a promise - it’s action.

When enforcement backs awareness, conservation works.

01/15/2026

Marine and coastal reserves only work when rules are respected and that requires regular, in-water patrols. These patrols deter illegal fishing, protect biodiversity, support fish recovery, and safeguard livelihoods that depend on healthy ecosystems.

But enforcement comes at a cost: boats, fuel, trained rangers, monitoring equipment, and sustained funding. Without consistent investment, even the best-designed protected areas risk becoming paper parks.

Strong enforcement isn’t optional, it’s essential.

Pictured: patrol their extensive marine protected areas

Address

Marathon, FL

Website

https://www.mpaconnect.org/

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