Researchers at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) have published new findings on how marine protected areas (MPAs) can achieve long-term financial sustainability. Their study, released in the journal Marine Policy, focuses on practitioner experiences from Latin America and the Caribbean to inform strategies that could be applied globally.
The research paper, titled “A Roundtable on Marine Protected Area Finance: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean on Four Keys to Success for Improving Financial Sustainability,” was developed after a session at the 5th International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver in 2023. The session included MPA managers from Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, as well as funders and consultants worldwide.
John Bohorquez, a research associate at SoMAS who co-led the session with Christine Santora of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science (IACAS), stated: “We believe these lessons are globally relevant, not just for Latin America and the Caribbean, and they highlight how practitioner-led knowledge can shape broader conservation finance strategies.”
MPAs are widely recognized as important tools for maintaining ocean health by helping ecosystems recover and increasing resilience to climate change. However, their effectiveness is often limited by insufficient funding. Many protected areas risk becoming “paper parks”—protected in name only—due to lack of resources.
The study identifies four main approaches to improve financial sustainability: diversifying income sources and financing mechanisms; strengthening internal financial capacity; leveraging partnerships across sectors; and aligning policies to remove barriers. These recommendations are based on case studies and exchanges among practitioners.
Traditional funding methods such as government budgets or philanthropic grants frequently fall short. The report highlights several examples where local initiatives made a difference. In Belize, a community-based group enhanced financial stability for Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary through eco-tourism services, water-quality monitoring, equipment leasing, and collaboration with neighboring MPAs—even across borders with Mexico—to maximize resources.
In Honduras, when tourism revenue dropped during COVID-19 restrictions, a marine park introduced water-testing services for hotels and restaurants to create a more stable funding stream. Costa Rica has used national-level programs like Forever Costa Rica to secure significant funding increases for MPAs. A dedicated “Blue Fund” now supports management efforts there.
“These examples show that local innovations can yield lessons with global relevance,” said Bohorquez. “From diversifying income streams to working across political boundaries and adapting traditional funding models, these efforts demonstrate how MPAs can achieve sustainable financing for a variety of contexts from local to national levels.”
Currently only about 10 percent of global oceans are under protection; most MPAs do not have enough resources to meet their goals. Governments worldwide have pledged to protect 30 percent of oceans by 2030—a goal that will require stronger financial foundations. Recent international agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework and events like the Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco have underscored this need.
Bohorquez has contributed insights from his research at forums including the UN Ocean Conference. The team hopes their findings will encourage adoption of sustainable finance practices in conservation work around the world.
