Nicaragua: Pacific Coast

Abstract Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America (~ 129,500 km 2 ), and the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 40% of the population living in poverty. The Pacific coastline is 305 km long and about 54% of the population lives in the Pacific region. The coastal waters support rich biota but ecosystem integrity has been affected by overuse, contamination, and degradation of the extensive mangroves and adjacent forests. The southern part is less diverse than the north, but is less impacted by development. Even though the Pacific shelf of Nicaragua is considerably smaller than the Caribbean shelf, its biomass is four times larger, partly due to upwelling. Marine habitats have already experienced substantial degradation, in part due to a loss of one-half of the coastal forest cover, leading to excessive sedimentation, as well as from anchor and other diver-related damage, and illegal fishing. Nicaragua has maintained growth levels above the average for Latin America partly due to the tourism industry. Shrimp aquaculture makes a significant and increasing contribution to the Pacific Coast economy, although the number of small producers has declined. Despite the best efforts of the government to protect wildlife; poverty, population growth, and climate change put pressure on the country’s habitats. Capacity is developing to eliminate destructive fishing practices and conserve marine biodiversity along the Pacific Coast. Over the past two decades, there has been significant progress to address climate change and improve regulation of natural resources. In 2007, Nicaragua formulated its National Climate Change Action Plan based on studies on vulnerability, mitigation options, and climate change impact. This work updates information provided in Seas at the Millennium ( Jameson, Trott, Marshall, & Childress, 2000 ) and also provides a countrywide perspective, where appropriate, that is not included in the accompanying World Seas Nicaragua: Caribbean chapter.