Marine Biodiversity Conservation at Cala Mia
Cala Mia Island Resort exists in balance with the sea. We are committed to marine conservation in Panama. We believe marine conservation efforts should be everyone’s responsibility. Explore the array of marine adventures we offer.
World Marine Heritage Site
We are involved with the World Marine Heritage Site of the East Pacific in its efforts to create and enforce new standards of how businesses can help with marine conservation in Panama.
The group includes representatives from Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. In Panama, while there are laws for ocean conservation, these laws lack the necessary enforcement to make them effective. There are no license requirements in Panama—no size or daily catch regulations, no defined fishing seasons, and no legally protected species. That is why the World Marine Heritage Site has created and enforced regulations for itself; to preserve this most vital resource.
The WMHS prioritizes the protection of endangered species, as these countries are the last safe havens for various marine life species. They make a large effort to protect sharks, whales, and turtles specifically. Marine conservation in Panama is also focusing on efforts to limit and control invasive species brought to the region by travelers and the aquaculture business. The WMHS, founded in 2017, has already made a difference in the region by clearing the seas of debris such as old fishing lines that had long been unnecessarily trapping and killing members of the ecosystem.
The WMHS is also working to develop sustainable plans for operating within the ecosystem, including strategies to promote marine biodiversity conservation while still supporting the increase in commercial fishing for communities that are dependent upon it.
Our sport fishing brand Panama Nautical Club, has been involved in the World Marine Heritage Organization and works to ensure that the standards at Cala Mia live up to the task of ocean conservation. The owner believes “The sea is our connection with Mother Nature, and he has given us all we needed for so long, but now it is our turn to take care of her.”
“Protecting the ocean is the best thing that we can do to protect ourselves. If we don’t care for it now, then we will lose this resource for all the generations to come.”
While many of these problems have complex solutions, to help save marine life in Panama, remember:
- When choosing your sunscreen, be careful of the ingredients you put on your body, as they will be washed out to sea. Choose a sunscreen that is free of oxybenzone and octinoxate (generally known as reef killers), zinc, PABA, or parabens.
- Pay attention to where your fish is sourced. While at the Resort you can be sure that the fish offered has been sustainably caught; however, once you leave, be sure to continue verifying that your fish is sustainably sourced.
- When utilizing snorkeling equipment, be careful to not touch reefs as this could cause damage. In addition, be mindful to refrain from making sand clouds, as this could disrupt and damage the ecosystem around you.
- Follow the Facebook group of the World Marine Heritage to be more involved.
Helpful Resources: