Strengthening the Protection and Management of Panama’s Greater Gulf of Chiriquí

The Greater Gulf of Chiriquí, comprising approximately 16,355 square kilometers of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, sustains Panama’s most vibrant fisheries. It also hosts a growing tourism industry and rural microenterprises. Although relevant for conserving highly critical habitats and ecosystems (e.g., reefs, mangroves, seamounts), traditional planning has disregarded ecological and oceanographic dynamics and linkages between habitats and species. This approach has limited the effectiveness of biodiversity protection and sustainability of environmental services. To strengthen the management and responsible use of the greater gulf’s critical migratory habitats, the Bezos Earth Fund granted $509,000 to MarViva Panama through Re:Wild. The grant enables improved governance mechanisms, control and surveillance tools, as well as monitoring and management of fisheries, including responsible artisanal fishing to enhance the sustainability of livelihoods.