Abstract Summary
Reef restoration efforts are of most importance for those areas of high touristic visitation. Especially when operations occur in great numbers and during peaks hours and holiday seasons. Probability of impacts increases when either compliance level is low or there are surveillance or patrol problems. The National Marine Park of Cancun and Isla Mujeres in the Mexican Caribbean receives nearly 900,000 visitors per year and is one of the most visited marine parks in the world. In 2004-2005 the area was hit by three hurricanes of which one reached category 5, with great devastation to main reef units. Restoration activities involved the nautical community to remove junk entangled in the reefs preventing further damage to corals. It also considered the rescue of fragments, to later incorporate some of them into a marine nurseries and reef restoration project. Due to the slow recovery rate and the incoming of visitors into the reef units, authority had two management options: to estimate carrying capacities per reef unit and implement them or redirect visitors to sandy and rocky bottom areas with artificial habitats. Second option was decided and first attempt using simple artificial reefs were not well accepted. The nautical community and National Marine Park considered a second and very successful attempt. Sculptures made with neutral pH cement became a real option. It was accepted by the nautical community and the advisory committee of the National Park. The value of this project redirecting visitors is analyzed in terms of governance and as a conservation and management strategy. The effectiveness of this alternative in terms of conservation and income is demonstrated and how it has served to lower density of visitors in reef units under restoration processes increasing the impact of reef ecosystem rehabilitation. It is discussed why similar projects are being now been planned in other sites touristic resorts in the world where activities in coral reefs take place.
