Isla Isabel is located on the Mexican Pacific, 15 miles from the coast. It is a unique place surrounded by coral reefs that serve as a nursery for one of the largest mangroves in the country. Its ecological value is recognized not only by conservation associations and government authorities, but also by the fishermen of the area who promote and are involved in actions to protect it, making them responsible both for its conservation and the development of the fishing sector.
Eight fishing cooperatives committed to good resource management, protection, and conservation signed a voluntary protection agreement with Seacology. In it, the fishermen established a polygon of 741 acres as a No Fishing Zone.
For this work, in coordination with Pronatura Noroeste and with financing from Seacology and technical assistance from the Directorate of the Isla Isabel National Park – CONANP, a project was developed to place buoys (mooring and signaling) and install Cuban lobster houses.
Currently, the partners, together with the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas, promote the creation of a Marine Area adjacent to the park, which will give long-term viability to and formalize this natural heritage and area fisheries.
Isla Isabel was declared a National Park in 1980 and has been considered a Ramsar site since 2003. The island provides refuge, food, and serves as a breeding site for seabirds like the red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), the Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii), the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), and the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens).
