Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental

CEMDA is a legal organization working in defence of the environment and natural resources in Mexico, including the marine regions. Within their broad scope, they include a coasts and seas focus which recently called for the protection of the Veracruz reef. They advocate for the development of national policies regarding coral reefs, such as an Official Mexican Standard on the management and restoration of reef ecosystems. Amongst their many proposals are: an inventory of marine resources, not only those of extractive or commercial importance; a project to establishes the specifications for the preservation, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of coastal wetlands in mangrove areas; geographically defined fishing concessions, under criteria of ecosystem management and social equity; recovery programs for overexploited resources and fisheries management for all species subject to exploitation; create the General Law of Seas and Coasts to change the management of coastal and marine ecosystems; and, finally, prepare the regulations for the General Law on Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.