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— MANATEES FROM THE GULF TO THE CARIBBEAN
WHERE THERE ARE
MANATEES,
THERE IS LIFE
The Mexican manatee lives in the lagoon and river systems that connect to the sea, from Veracruz to Xcalak, Mexico's last town before Belize. It is a keystone species: with its size it opens underwater paths used by thousands of species, and as it feeds it returns nutrients that keep the whole ecosystem alive. Its populations are declining due to human causes. This project carries out science, education and regeneration across 14 sites to understand why and reverse it, together with fishing cooperatives, schools and women's groups in each community.
LED BY
Alonso I. Rodríguez de la Parra
STATUS
— WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS
MANATEE POPULATIONS IN MEXICO ARE DECLINING. AND WITH THEM, THE LIFE THAT DEPENDS ON THEM.
The Mexican manatee is found in the lagoon systems with freshwater springs that run from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean. Its populations appear to be declining due to human causes, both direct and indirect, and firm scientific evidence is still missing to pinpoint and halt those causes. It is a keystone species: it reshapes the soil and the water, opens underwater paths used by thousands of species, and as it feeds it recycles nutrients that keep the habitat alive. Many animals depend on the manatee staying here.
WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?
Science, education and regeneration at every site.
WHAT IS IT FOR?
To gather the evidence that halts the decline, and so the next generation protects it.
Alonso I. Rodríguez de la Parra
Dr. Blanca Cortina
SUPPORTED BY
— THE PROJECT IN OPERATION
ONGOING WORK IN THE LAGOONS THAT RUN FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE CARIBBEAN.
The team travels the sites in field tours, while a network of local collaborators goes out on the water the rest of the time. Each trip documents the manatees and their habitat, and brings the project closer to the communities that share the territory with the species.
METHOD
Every trip is recorded.
Each outing documents the manatees with an aerial camera, a photo catalogue of individual animals, and tracking of the lagoons' water quality.
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THE SPECIES
The Antillean manatee.
Trichechus manatus, an endangered keystone species: the life of many others in its habitat depends on it.
THE COMMUNITY
The people who care for it.
Fishing cooperatives, schools and women's groups take part in workshops, contribute data from their knowledge of the territory, and train to respond to strandings.
THE PLACE
From the Gulf to the Caribbean.
The lagoons and freshwater springs from the Alvarado Lagoon System in Veracruz to Xcalak, on the border with Belize.
— PROJECT TRAJECTORY
WHAT WE HAVE BUILT AND WHERE IT IS HEADING.
The project is ongoing science, education and conservation work, with a team and a network of collaborators with decades of experience with the manatee. What is already done lays the foundation; what comes next ensures the species and the communities stay accompanied.
PRODUCTS DELIVERED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT
WHAT'S BEEN DONE
Network of collaborators
Decades of work with local collaborators, biologists and manatee researchers in each region. A network already exists at the sites where the project works.
Scientific foundation
Research on the Mexican manatee led by recognized specialists on the species, together with Mares de México, Universidad Veracruzana and Ecosur.
Dialogue with the communities
First conversations with the collaborators at each site to plan visits to the study, education and conservation locations.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO
Trips in the lagoons
Outings across the sites documenting the manatees, their habitat and water quality, with an aerial camera and a photo catalogue of individual animals.
Education and community
Workshops with fishing cooperatives, schools and women's groups, and local training to respond to strandings.
Science that reaches the decision
Updated census, identification of the pressures on the species, and inputs to update Mexico's manatee conservation program (PACE).
— THE CHANGE YOUR DONATION MAKES
THREE WAYS THE WORK WITH THE MANATEE BECOMES REAL PROTECTION.
Mares de México's donors don't fund abstract research. They fund decisions that are made afterward with that information — decisions that affect real animals, communities and ecosystems.
01
Scientific evidence to halt the decline
Firm evidence on why populations are falling is still missing. The project produces an updated census, measures what pressures them —fishing, urbanization, waste— and assesses their connection between the Gulf and the Caribbean, to support refuges and safe passage routes that ensure their survival.
02
A basis to update the species' protection
The results feed the update of Mexico's manatee conservation program (PACE): the bridge between field data and the public policy that protects the species and its habitat. The science done in the lagoons reaches those who make the decisions.
03
Communities that care for the manatee
Fishing cooperatives, schools and women's groups take part, contribute data and receive training to respond to strandings. The species stops being protected from the outside: it is cared for by the community that shares its territory.
— JOIN THIS PROJECT
THE MANATEE IS STILL HERE THANKS TO THOSE WHO PROTECT IT. MAKE SURE THE WORK CONTINUES.
The project is already operating in the sites from the Gulf to the Caribbean, with decades of work behind it and a network of collaborators at each location. Every tour that gets funded means more science to halt the decline, more trained communities, and getting closer to updating the national manatee conservation program.
DIRECT CONTACT
Write to us at impacto@maresdemexico.com or via WhatsApp for questions, institutional donations, or to chat with the project team.