La Reserva Biológica Isla del Caño, Costa Rica
Caño Island Biological Reserve, designated in 1978, is located within Costa Rica's Osa Conservation Area in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The Osa Conservation Area is famous for having some of the most diverse and best-developed coral reef ecosystems on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and Caño Island Biological Reserve stands out as the best of the best. Its coral reefs are some of the most resilient, extensive, and well-preserved, and the reserve hosts an impressive diversity of reef fish. Due to its distant, isolated location and status as a biological reserve, Caño Island Biological Reserve may serve as a coral refugia during temperature fluctuations, such as El Niño events.
The waters in and around the protected area are also important breeding and foraging grounds for a variety of migratory species, including humpback whales, sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles. Caño Island Biological Reserve is part of a network of coastal and marine protected areas along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Caño Island Biological Reserve is managed by Costa Rica's National System of Protected Areas (SINAC), and the local community members support and increase the capacity of the management team. As many are reliant on the reserve's healthy reefs and biodiversity for their livelihoods, the communities are great stewards of Caño Island Biological Reserve; they host beach clean ups, capture and disentangle ghost gears, and deter illegal fishing activities, among other activities.
Caño Island Biological Reserve's management, research, and outreach activities are also enhanced by a variety of strategic partnerships. NGO partner and Blue Spark collaborator, MigraMar, primarily focuses on understanding and safeguarding marine migratory species. MigraMar has been an involved partner in conducting baseline research and advocating for sound management in Caño Island Biological Reserve.
