The Barra Sarstun Fishing Committee in the Rio Sarstun Multiple Use Area in Guatemala, and part of the Mesoamerican Reef, was created over 10 years ago. After many months of sacrifice and hard work, they had recently completed the construction of their restaurant as the final link in the vertical integration of alternative income activities they develop, from fish recovery sites to fish grow-out cages to collection center and, finally, the restaurant.
On Monday, August 14 2017, the restaurant and collection center caught fire. The fishing committee will now begin reconstruction. The community members that are part of the Committee and other fishermen depend on this project as a source of alternative income.
With your support, this project will provide funding to the Committee to support the reconstruction of their community restaurant and fish collection and sales center. By helping the Committee, we are ensuring they continue to support conservation and monitoring actions in the fish recovery site they created, as the basis for sustainable fishing in the area.
The project will allow the Committee to continue managing the natural resources they depend on and will support the continuity of alternative income sources for the community. This leads to sustainable fishing practices and conservation, contributing to the overall health of the Mesoamerican Reef.
