New marine reserve off Peru

In northern Peru, off the coasts of Piura and Tumbes, there is a part of the sea that is unique in the world and rich in biodiversity. After ten years, this area has been declared a natural protected area by the state. This is the Mar Tropical de Grau National Reserve (RNMTG), which, with an extension of almost 116,000 hectares, is the habitat of 70% of Peru's marine species. It is also home to a large percentage of hydrobiological resources for human consumption, vital for food security and the livelihood of local communities.

Peru has reached a milestone for conservation with the approval of Peru's second 100% marine reserve. Its creation responds to the need to conserve and protect an area of high marine biodiversity, large marine corridors necessary to maintain the functionality of ecological cycles and the reproduction of emblematic marine species such as sea turtles, whales and dolphins. It also aims to strengthen the economic and social development of local communities through sustainable tourism and artisanal fishing. 

The creation of the reserve will generate multiple benefits: it will help combat illegal fishing, protect artisanal fisheries, develop the area's tourism potential, help reduce the negative impacts of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, and contribute to the 30x30 goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The German government has contributed to the process of establishing the reserve through various projects: Since 2021, the “Ecosystem-based adaptation measures for integrated coastal and marine zone management” (EbAMar) project has supported the co-organisation of on-site awareness-raising and advocacy events to highlight the importance of protecting the area. It has also helped local fishermen's organizations in La Islilla, Paita, to formalize and improve their tourism services. This has included the delivery of digital equipment to the interpretation center, enabling the local association to better serve visitors who come to see various natural attractions, such as Isla Foca. In addition, the project has strengthened the capacities of artisanal fishermen. 

The IKI continues its support through the regional "Save The Blue Five" project, which focuses on the protection of migratory marine megafauna in the Southeast Pacific region. This project includes systematizing the process and lessons learned during the creation of the reserve. 

Since 2023, the national authority has also been supported in strengthening governance through the triangular cooperation initiative between Peru, Costa Rica and Germany (on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ) for the management of the Tropical Sea of Grau. The synergies between the projects demonstrated the importance of working with local stakeholders in the area, as they are responsible for continuing to conserve the ecosystem and make the process sustainable.