The Gulf of Fonseca, on the Pacific coast of Honduras, is a hot, harsh place. But its mangrove-lined shores, river delta, and volcanic islands offer an ideal habitat for wildlife. Fish, clams, and crustaceans are plentiful. The gulf is one of the region’s main nesting areas for critically endangered hawksbill turtles. And the area is a birder’s paradise, with colorful parrots, enormous frigatebirds, and many more easily spotted.

For the people living on the area’s sparsely populated islands, though, it’s hard to make a living. Destruction of large areas of mangroves for shrimp farming has ripped away the habitat of many marine species, and left communities vulnerable to damage from wind and waves. Illegal fishing depletes the stocks that people depend on. Many people on the islands are cut off from the mainland power grid, and must light their homes with candles and use expensive and toxic car batteries for electricity.

In 2023, Seacology began working with communities to address these environmental challenges and improve the quality of life for islanders. We partnered with a well-established local NGO, the Committee for the Defense and Development of the Flora and Fauna of the Gulf of Fonseca (CODDEFFAGOLF). Our project provides renewable power, removes waste, and helps ensure that local fisheries remain healthy.

Solar panels installed on Exposición and Inglesera Islands now provide reliable electricity for every family living there. They also power refrigerators that let fishers store their catches longer, so they can fish less frequently, waste less, and have more control over prices.