Ninety five per cent of the municipal income of the Corn Islands comes from scale fish and lobster fisheries. In the last decade, catches have decreased dramatically causing great concern in the fishing community. In addition there are fears that sewage-pollution and increases in sedimentation may be leading to a deterioration of the coral reefs and sea grass habitats which the fisheries are dependent on. In response to this, the Nicaraguan fisheries department last year placed a ban on lobster fishing during two months of the year and the possibility of creating a marine reserve around the Corn Islands is being explored.

This project’s aim is to supply the Corn Islands and Pearl Cays of Nicaragua with updated monitoring and baseline information on the status of coastal and marine resources. The main objective is to provide the information required to implement a good management strategy for the area by working with students and scientists from the universities on the coast and with the local community. The information will promote the islands’ conservation, assist sustainability of the coast’s fisheries and act as a baseline for future monitoring of the island’s marine resources.