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Quantification And Impacts Of Nautical Traffic On Hawksbill Presence In A Honduran Marine Protected Area: A Progress Report, Stephen G. Dunbar
Quantification And Impacts Of Nautical Traffic On Hawksbill Presence In A Honduran Marine Protected Area: A Progress Report, Stephen G. Dunbar
Stephen Dunbar, PhD
Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been implemented to help reduce negative impacts of human activities on marine organisms. However, many MPAs overlook specific threats, such as nautical traffic. Boat presence has been shown to alter typical activity patterns, increase stress, and lead to physical injury in marine animals. The Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve (SBWEMR) was implemented to protect the northwestern shore and marine environments of Roatán, Honduras, and the organisms that inhabit them, including the hawksbill sea turtle. However, there are many dive centers, hotels, and marinas in the SBWEMR, almost all of which generate boat traffic. To …