Besides community education, monitoring building practices on the island, advocating for sound environmental practices, initiating a trash cleanup program, continuing its environmental education program in the schools, BICA also manages the Sandy Bay – West End  National Marine Park  which encompasses the communities of Sandy Bay, West End, West Bay, and Key Hole.

The marine protected area on the Western end of the island was spearheaded by Tino Monterroso in 1988. Tino, as an avid diver, had become aware of the deteriorating condition of the reef. He met with consultants who did the first reef studies for the Government of Honduras. The results of the studies showed that the reef around the Sandy Bay – Palmetto areas had suffered the most adverse impacts, caused by sedimentation, overfishing. and physical damage from anchors and poor diving practices. For two years, Tino and others spoke with and educated the local community about the importance of a marine reserve for the survival of the reef and built local support from the community for the Reserve.

The Reserve was established by municipal decree in 1989 and 1993.  After many years of struggles in 2010 this marine protected area obtained  congressional  decree ( 075-2010, 25th July 2010, La
Gaceta 32,273)

The Marine Reserve was initially supported by voluntary contributions from diving businesses and concerned individuals. Unfortunately, because the contributions were voluntary, funding was unpredictable from year to year especially during low season and was never sufficient to allow the Reserve to grow institutionally. The Reserve was an important beginning but it could not afford to do all the things it needed to do.

Around 1995 the Reserve faced financial collapse as businesses pulled back their voluntary contributions. The Board of Directors requested BICA's assistance with the maintenance of the Reserve. The next year, BICA signed a management agreement with the Government of Honduras to manage the Reserve. Unfortunately, the Government provided no funds to BICA for the job. So BICA began a three year fundraising campaign to solicit funds from outside sources to manage the Reserve. BICA continued to manage the Reserve with limited funds, all voluntarily raised. USAID was the main donor, along with Funcacion Vida, a Honduran foundation.

Around 1998, The Bay Islands Management Project was now in the works. BICA worked to get the Marine Reserve funded until the PMAID program got started. PMAID was to institute a tourist fee for all the Bay Islands to fund marine and terrestrial protected areas. BICA secured funding between 1998 and 2002 to keep the Reserve operating. At the present time, there is still no permanent funding for the managment of this marine protected area. Voluntary contributions from concerned individuals like you are still critical to the success of this marine park.

The first board of directors headed by Tino Monterroso and Professor Julio Cruz, with financial support from Anthony's Key Resort and Pirates' Den Hotel implemented the reserve patrol program. BICA continued implementing the patrol program in the Marine Reserve to implement related activities and to curb poaching. To maximize the effectiveness of our limited resources, BICA conducts constant evaluations of the success of the patrol plan, identifies critical areas in each community and shifts resources to these areas as needed, identifies repeat offenders and monitors the penalties given for poaching; and finds out who the poachers are and why they poach. The patrols have had a significant effect  on poaching, even though they are not as extensive as we would like. There was and is understandable frustration by all concerned that poaching continues in the marine park.

We are proud of what we have accomplished.  Recent studies by PMAIB indicates that the marine protected area contribute to fisheries recovery and enhancement. The patrol program implemented by the initial marine reserve board, BICA'S ongoing involvement and our community partners all have contributed to the recovery of fisheries in this protected area. especially when compared to areas outside the marine park that are over fished and of course compared to the status of a depleted reef in 1989 when the Reserve was formed. These studies show a higher biomass rate and higher number per individuals inside the marine park than in any other site on the island. This is an indicator of the success of our patrols and related activities implemented since 1989.

One of the lessons we have learned over the years is that poverty is the driving force in poaching. To truly eliminate poaching, there must be alternatives to poaching for those who do so to feed their families. of this illegal activity; especially as our communities continue to grow and in the absence of viable alternative that will reduce existing poverty rates. Many authorities are not keen to send poachers to jail on a permanent basis when these individuals in many cases poach to feed their families whether it's illegal or whether we agree or not. A patrol program is a specific activity with specific goals that can and will lead to fisheries protection and recovery as the recent Pmaib, studies have shown. Unfortunately poverty and other social issues will only allow a percentage of control. Part of a long term strategy to protect our resources is the reduction of poverty rates in our communities.

Protected area management is a challenge that requires sufficient funding, a long term strategy, and collaboration among the local community, others who use and enjoy the area, and many governmental agencies. The threat to the reef is not just from poaching and physical reef damage by snorkelers, anchors, etc. Human behavior on the land, such as sedimentation of the Reef from poor development practices, run-off caused by deforestation, and high nutrient input also endanger this fragile ecosystem.

Join BICA. Use good practices when diving or snorkeling. If you are building on the island, make sure your builder is doing it properly. Protect the mangroves and the seagrass that filter the sediment and protect the reef and marine ecosystem. Volunteer with BICA.