Response indicators

Federal marine protected areas harbouring coral reefs

Protected natural areas (PNA) are one of the major strategies for nature conservation (UICN and PNUMA, 1990). Their primary function is to protect the flora, fauna and natural resources of special importance as well as ecosystems representative of a region or country. The establishment of natural protected area systems directly reflects the measures taken by governments to protect natural resources, biodiversity and the environmental services this provides (GESAMP, 1995; UNCSD, 1995), and has often been used as an indicator by international organizations (e. g., OECD, 2008; ONU, 2007 and WB, 2009) and government environmental agencies of many countries, including Mexico. The indicator Federal marine protected areas harbouring coral reefs denotes the country’s efforts to preserve these ecosystems.

Ecological land-use plans decreed in marine and coastal areas harbouring coral reefs

Land-use planning is a tool designed to regulate land use and foster environmentally suitable productive activities, in order to protect the environment and make a sustainable use of natural resources (Semarnat, 2008). The indicator Ecological land-use plans decreed in marine and coastal areas harbouring coral reefs reflects the efforts made for planning and regulating the development in those areas of the country, in order to reduce the potential negative effects that unregulated development activities cause on coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs.

Fisheries inspection in coastal areas harbouring coral reefs

Protecting and regulating fishing activity in Mexico involves a number of instruments, ranging from permits and Mexican Official Standards to the establishment of "minimum catch size", bans and the prohibition of harmful fishing gear. Inspection and surveillance activities are carried out by Profepa and Community Surveillance Committees and are critical for enforcing compliance with those instruments. In this regard, Inspection and surveillance activities of fishery resources serve as an indicator of protection efforts carried out by the government and society for protecting these resources. Further information and details of this indicator can be found in the chapter on Fishery resources.