Advancing community-led fisheries and ocean conservation in Guatemala
Guatemala’s Caribbean coast lies along the Mesoamerican Reef and is home to rich mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral ecosystems that sustain coastal communities. Small-scale fisheries are a cornerstone of the regional economy and culture, supporting the livelihoods of coastal families who depend on the reef. Many of these households also rely on smallholder farming to support their families.
These interconnected systems face growing pressures. Overfishing, land and habitat degradation, weak governance, and climate change are straining both marine and terrestrial ecosystems — threatening biodiversity, food security, and incomes.
Today, these ecosystems face growing pressure from overfishing, habitat degradation, weak governance, and climate change. These challenges threaten marine biodiversity, food security, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Through community-led solutions, Rare works with coastal communities to restore fisheries, protect biodiversity, strengthen food security and livelihoods, advance gender equity, and support climate-resilient futures.
Pesca Unida
Fishers across Guatemala join forces through Pesca Unida to protect what sustains them.
Strengthening community leadership in coastal fisheries management
Rare partners with coastal communities and governments to strengthen fisheries management and local leadership. Our work focuses on the Community Seas — the nearshore waters where millions depend on healthy fisheries for food and livelihoods.
Rare works with coastal communities and local leaders to establish community-managed fishing areas with “no-take” marine reserves to protect and rebuild fisheries while strengthening livelihoods. Rare also works to secure these areas as OECMS, strengthening community rights and contributing to broader conservation goals.
Coastal 500 is the largest global network of mayors and local government leaders committed to fostering thriving and prosperous coastal communities.
The Rare approach to community-led conservation
We work with communities to lead conservation and build the conditions that help it last.
This includes strengthening rights, governance, livelihoods, and culture, while also working beyond the community level to ensure policies, finance, and other systems sustain these efforts over time.
Designing solutions that work for people and nature
We design solutions grounded in how people make decisions and act. We work with communities to align new practices with local priorities, social norms, and daily realities — and use tools and technology to support adoption, learning, and scaling.
Strengthening policies that support community leadership
We work with communities and governments to shape policies that recognize local leadership and support long-term stewardship of natural resources.
Expanding access to finance for communities
We connect communities to financial tools and opportunities that strengthen livelihoods and help them adapt to environmental and economic change.
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Partners in Guatemala
Rare works with a range of partners in Guatemala. The following is a sampling of our partners (past and present):
national government institutions (including the Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (CONAP)), municipal governments (Livingston and Puerto Barrios), local fisher associations and community committees, civil society organizations such as ICIAAD and FUNDAECO, and coastal fishing communities.
We are grateful to the partners and supporters whose collaboration makes this work possible.
Partner with us
Healthy oceans depend on strong partnerships and community leadership.
If you are interested in partnering with Rare in Central America or supporting community-led fisheries management, we would love to hear from you.
Contact Us
For more information on Rare’s work in Honduras, please contact us.
