Going boating with Manzanillo, Montecristi is the newest tourist attraction in the northwest. The boats of the fishermen are now works of art after collaboration by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Tourism with the United Nations Development Fund’s Global Environmental Finance (GEF) funded Coastal and Tourism Biodiversity Project (BCYT). The fishermen from Estero Balsa now carry out their chores in artistically painted boats, many a statement of the importance of preserving the parrotfish that is in danger of extinction in the Caribbean.
The effort seeks to create an awareness of the important role the community plays in the conservation of the natural resources and ecosystems, including the mangroves that are home and breeding area for tropical fish. The wellbeing of the parrotfish is also key to maintaining the pristine diving area in Montecristi and the attractive environ of the Cayos 7 Hermanos islets. Parrotfish is protected by Resolution 023/2017 that prohibits fishing and the consumption of the species. The project seeks to provide alternate options for the fishermen to earn a good living.
The Association of Fishermen of Estero Balsa has committed to conservation and to taking steps to position the Parque Nacional Manglares de Estero Balsa as a tourist attraction where the marine species can freely reproduce themselves. The area is also a major site for bird watching.
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12 February 2019
