How effective are marine parks in protecting their coral reef ecosystem? A study case in the Mexican Caribbean

In the Mexican Caribbean, marine protected areas have been established to tackle marine ecosystem degradation caused by the coastal development that started in Cancun in the 1970s and extended south to the border with Belize in the 1990s. It is crucial to assess their effectiveness for conservation of the reef ecosystem, but also the perception of stakeholders, because the objective would be unattainable without their participation. This study evaluated the conservation status and the management effectiveness of National Park Xcalak Reefs (PNAX), in the southernmost Mexican Caribbean. In addition to interviewing local stakeholders to recognize issues related to the administration and functioning of PNAX, four zones with different use restrictions inside the park were evaluated, using ecological indicators (diversity and abundance of fishes, coral diversity and cover, and macroalgal cover) and ecological knowledge by interviewing local stakeholders, mostly fishers and conservation personnel. The results suggest that one of the restricted-use zones is in good condition, with a higher abundance of fishes and coral cover, and a lower cover of fleshy macroalgae and turf, compared with the other zones in the protected area. On the other hand, the core area presents bad indicators, such as a higher macroalgal cover and lower abundance of fishes, suggesting poor management or insufficient enforcement. Although mistrust and lack of communication between fishers and conservation authorities may limit the achievement of conservation goals, some programmes involving active participation of local people, for example lionfish culling and coastal vegetation restoration, have had a good impact on the coral reef community.