The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), also known as the Great Mayan Reef is the second largest in the world, second only to the Great Barrier Reef. MBRS sits in the Caribbean Sea stretching from the Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, along the entire east side of Belize, and the coasts of Guatemala and Honduras.

A series of underwater reef landscapes and coastal mangroves along the shoreline protect the inland areas from strong storms and hurricanes as well as provide a home to thousands of species of fauna and flora.

The healthy reef supports large and small fisheries as well as the jobs and businesses that rely on recreation and tourism in the area. Mapping Ocean Wealth Explorer estimates the high value reef in the MBRS to be worth greater than $908,000 per sq km per year.

There are several coral reef restoration programs in the area specifically on Cozumel island is the Cozumel Coral Reef Restoration Program that was founded by biologist, Dr. German Mendez in 2013. They provide education programs that promote conservations and restoration of the areas that have been negatively affected by human activity and storms.