The Port Honduras Marine Reserve is 160 square miles of coastal waters. It is recognized for high biodiversity, with a robust belt of unaltered mangroves and sandy coasts that provide a critical link between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The crystal clear, blue Caribbean waters are home to endangered and vulnerable species. Approximately 4,500 people live in adjacent communities, with additional fishing pressure stemming from poachers. The reserve encompasses estuaries near shore communities and extends to protect fringing reefs.  There are over one hundred small, mangrove-fringed cayes and benthic habitats comprised of soft-bottom seagrass beds, reefal banks and fringing reefs which are unique to the country.

 The key goals of TIDE within the reserve are to:

 

Management of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve by the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) is widely recognized as a successful example of community-based co-management. The protected areas co-managed by TIDE (Port Honduras Marine Reserve with the Fisheries Department, Payne’s Creek National Park with the Forestry Department and the TIDE Private Protected Lands) offer natural and cultural amenities unparalleled in the region. TIDE provides researchers and eco-tourists with a unique opportunity to visit protected areas.

 

Infrastructure plans include ranger stations, education centers, seaside campgrounds, and interpretive signs to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the area's irreplaceable flora and fauna. These plans, which also include livelihood opportunities for buffer communities, are in line with existing management plans and studies on carrying capacity.