Conservation actions and ecological context: optimizing coral reef local management in the Dominican Republic

Study area

The study was conducted at Bayahibe, a municipality on the Dominican Republic’s South-eastern Caribbean coast (Fig. 1) with a huge influx of tourism. Coral reef sites are distributed along a semi-continuous fringing reef dominated by rocky and coral substrate, with small and dispersed coral patches (Geraldes, 2003). The municipality is part of the Romana–Bayahibe–Dominicus tourism destination area, which is characterized by a fast transformation of the coastline and coastal seascape during the last decades (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). It is currently a leading tourist attraction for the Dominican Republic, with an average of approximately 559,000 visitors per year and over 3,300 hotel rooms (Herrera-Moreno et al., 2014).

The Bayahibe area includes several MPAs traditionally managed from a cultural/tourism perspective (Herrera-Moreno et al., 2014), with multiple landscape and seascape protection that include (1) Cotubanamá National Park (CNP) which was established in 1975 by a top down government mandate (796.40 km²), and included within, a No-take reserve in the reef lagoon between the mangrove forests and Saona Island, close to “Punta Cacón” reef, called a “Catuano” channel where fishing and vessel traffic has been prohibited since 2009 by Decree 499‒09 (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019), (2) Guaraguao Catuano Natural Recreation Area (GCNRA) established in 1975, that occupies a marine area of 18.59 km² and includes land-based protection of important ecosystems such as seagrass and coastal dunes (SINAP, 2014), and (3) the Southeastern Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary (SCRMS) with an area of 7,855.31 km², declared in 2009 as an MPA by Dominican Government Decree 571-09. The main goal of these designations was to conserve natural habitat and the unique environment that exists along the continental shelf on the SE part of the Hispaniola Island, and includes Dominicus reef sites linked to a thriving snorkeling and diving tourism (Table S1; Cortés-Useche et al., 2019).

Data collection and statistical analyses

Reef condition

Live coral percent (%) cover for selected reefs in Bayahibe ranged from 21% to 39% with an average of 31% (±1.04 SE) during the period from 2011 to 2016 (Table S2). The spatio-temporal analysis showed no significant differences (P-value = 0.875, Table S3), among the three sites in 2011 and 2016, following multiple disturbances such as Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac (2012), Mathew (2016) and heat stress presented in the study area in 2015. Mean coral cover values changed relatively little over the study period from 39% to 37% in DR, 38% to 31% in Pe, and 29% to 25% in PC (Fig. 2). This is consistent with the fact that no significant differences in coral coverage were observed among years (P-value = 0.139, Table S3). The main contributor to live coral cover in the Bayahibe reefs was Orbicella spp. complex and Agaricia agaricites. These species represented 31% and 24% of documented live coral cover respectively (Table S4; Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). Analysis of the post-disturbance data hurricane events 2012, 2016 and thermal stress 2015, showed that the benthos continued to be dominated by reef-building species. At the DR site, we found a seascape dominated by Montastraea cavernosa, the Pe site was dominated by Orbicella faveolata, while in the PC site Pseudodiploria strigosa dominated the seascape (P-value = 0.001, Table S3). Indeed, according to the PCO analysis accounted for 55.2% of total spatio-temporal variance (Fig. S1).

Further, fleshy macroalgae percent (%) cover at the same sites ranged from 14% to 36% with an average of 23% (±1.78 SE). There was a noticeable increase in % cover in 2012 across the three sites but remained stable afterwards, until 2015. FMC showed no significant temporal patterns changes among years (P-value = 0.869, Table S3). Nevertheless, increases were noticeable between2011 and 2016 (P-value = 0.0334, Table S3). By 2016, macroalgal assemblages were dominated by Dictyota spp. and Halimeda spp. FMC values at DR were 27% followed by PC 22% and Pe 21% (Fig. 2). No spatial patterns differences (between the three sites) in algal assemblage structure were observed (P-value = 0.144, Table S3).

Despite total fish biomass (TB) showing no significant temporal patterns (P-value = 0.076, Table S3), total fish biomass and population abundances improved noticeably from 2011 to 2016 (P-value = 0.0001, Table S3). By 2012, both biomass and abundance increased progressively until 2016 when fish biomass reached twice that recorded in 2011. The observed increase for DR was from 5.8 to 9.1 kg/100 m², at Pe from 4.9 to 16.6 kg/100 m², and at PC from 7.2 to 10.5 kg/100 m² (Fig. 2).

For herbivorous fishes (Acanthuridae and Scaridae), biomass increased in the three study sites from 2011 to 2016 (P-value = 0.0007, Table S3). DR increased from 3.6 to 6.1 kg/100 m², Pe from 2 to 2.8 kg/100 m², and PC from 1.1 to 4.9 kg/100 m². Commercial fish (Lutjanidae and Serranidae) increased in the same way (P-value = 0.0153, Table S3), at DR from 0.2 to 0.8 kg/100 m², at Pe from 0.7 to 5 kg/100 m², and at PC from 3 to 3.3 kg/100 m² (Fig. 3). This increasing spatial trend is consistent with the statistically obtained by PERMANOVA between the three sites (P-value = 0.157, Table S3).

Water quality

Overall, no significant spatio-temporal (seasons, time, and sites) differences were observed for WQ components (P-value > 0.05, Table S3). However, the interaction of season by factors (WQ components) analyzed in this study showed significant differences (P-value < 0.05, Table S3), except for ENT concentration (P-value = 0.1499, Table S3), that presented values of <10 cfu/100 mL for all sites and a mean of 2 cfu/100 mL. For TC, values (P-value = 0.1289, Table S3), t ranged from 14 to 50 colony forming units (cfu/100 mL) at the different stations. For FC, (P-value = 0.0271, Table S3), mean concentration was 12 cfu/100 mL for all observations. In addition, during the period from 2011 to 2016, SST values ranged from 26.9 °C to 30.5 °C. For example, seasonal trends showed SSTs were highest during the late summer months (September and October; ~30.5 °C), and the lowest were recorded from January to March (~26.9 °C) (P-value = 0.0001, Table S3). pH values ranged from 7.9 to 8.7 (P-value = 0.0001, Table S3), while mean turbidity values were low in sampled sites (<3 NTU). However, the results showed significant variation in NTU with higher values in the wet season of 2012 and 2015 and dry season of 2014 (>5 NTU) (P-value = 0.0001, Table S3). B4 site showed the high values for the zone with extreme values in wet season 2014 and dry season 2015 (>13 NTU). The non-parametric correlation BEST BIOENV (Spearman rank) analyses identified a group of WQ variables that had a weak correlation with coral reef health components, composed of TCO, ENT and NUT (Rho = −0.171) by time series.

Control of invasive species

A total of 2,534 lionfish (Pterois spp.) individuals were captured during the 2011–2016 period. Sizes ranged from 4.2 to 42.3 cm (LT) with an average of 20.5 cm. The average size class in the first year (2011) was 18 cm and 25 cm in the sixth year (2016). On average, 422 lionfish individuals were captured per year. The greatest number of captured fishes occurred in 2014 (469) and the lowest number (384) in 2012. The best catch per unit effort occurred in 2014 with 13.5 (ind/unit). Our results suggest greater lionfish abundances in the 2014 as catch was greatest even with lower participant involvement compared to other years. Results demonstrate constant capture (P-value = 0.834); no significant temporal differences were observed for the number of lionfish individuals during the period from 2011 to 2016. However, modal progression to capture larger individuals was observed, with the highest peaks in 2015 and 2016 (Fig. S2).

Coral reef restoration

The coral restoration program in Bayahibe by 2017 had a total of eight Acropora nurseries established (1 main nursery and 6 secondary nurseries) with a cumulative live tissue total of 26,000 linear cm (TLE). Equivalent to more than 1,400 fragments distributed across a wide range of sizes (<25 cm = 163, 26–50 cm = 162, 50–100 cm = 179, 100–200 cm = 250 and >200 cm = 66), with high survival (>80%), and annual productivity values >4.4 cm per year. Additionally, the program had six outplanting sites with 1,446 transplanted colonies, high survival rates (>70%) and annual productivity of 4.8 cm year⁻¹. The mean survival of all nursery fragments after the 2016 and 2017 cyclonic seasons was 35.06 ± 11.30%, with a range of 16.96–52.07%. The mean survival of the outplanted colonies in four outplanted sites operating after Hurricane Matthew (2016) was 28.68 ± 20.0%, with a range of 5.49–51.78%. The mean survival of the outplanted colonies after Hurricanes Irma & Maria (2017) was 61.57 ± 16.86%, with a range of 46.66–83.17%. Genetic analyses performed on the main nursery in the program, was shown to contain 32 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) (Calle-Triviño et al., 2020). Genetic analyses were not performed on the secondary nurseries. A. cervicornis spawning within nurseries and subsequent assisted fertilization, and rearing of embryos, larva, and recruits was performed for the first time on the Island in 2015 and repeated again in 2016. A fertility rate >90% was attained, but settlers’ survival rate after 332 days was 10% (Calle-Triviño et al., 2018).

Reef condition and management of coral reefs

Bayahibe’s reef health indicators based on the benthic cover and fish biomass show a healthy condition for 2016 (Fig. 4). The mean live coral cover of 31 ± 1.04% observed in Bayahibe, was better than other Caribbean averages (< 20% of cover; Fig. 5A). We recognize that coral cover has decreased from 2011 to 2016, however temporal analyses suggest that this decrease did not achieve significant difference. We found in our study reefs (DR 38%, Pe 31%, and PC 25%), high values of coral cover which are comparable with reefs within managed MPAs such as Bonaire (B-NTZ 45%), Cuba (JDR-NTZ 30%), Cozumel (C-NTZ 30%) or Tobago Cays (TC-NTZ 33%) (Jackson et al., 2014; Steneck et al., 2018; 2019; Martínez-Rendis, Acosta-González & Arias-González, 2020). In fact, benthos studies carried out by Steneck & Torres (2019) across the Dominican Republic, reported the most abundant coral cover to be found at two southern sites that included “La Caleta” outside of Santo Domingo, and Bayahibe; two areas that have had a long history of some form of management designation and relatively reduced human impacts. Precisely, Cortés-Useche et al. (2019) highlights that the MPA network in the SE Dominican Republic protects more than 50% of coral diversity and fosters protection of coral evolutionary history. In addition, fleshy macroalgae cover (23 ± 1.7%) was lower than other Caribbean reef averages (30%) (Fig. 5B). Despite the noticeable FMC increase from 2011 to 2016, the values were not poor or critical in comparison with threshold values (>25%) for the region (McField et al., 2018). The temporal patterns in Bayahibe’s reefs suggest that changes in the benthic community structure remain stable in contrast with other degraded reef sites with higher algal cover than coral cover (phase shift) (Jackson et al., 2014; Martínez-Rendis, Acosta-González & Arias-González, 2020). This coincides with the fact that no significant differences were observed among the years (PERMANOVA) and may provide evidence of ecosystem improvement of the Bayahibe area (Fig. 5). For example, in 2016 coral and fleshy macroalgae cover were better than baseline recorded at comparable sites in 1996 by Chiappone (2001) in southeastern Dominican reefs that showed mean fleshy macroalgae cover ranged from 52% to 80% and coral cover from 11% to 20% (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). This idea of ecosystem stability in Bayahibe is further supported by Steneck & Torres (2019) when they also reported that live coral and macroalgae cover at El “Peñón reef” and “Tortuga” (other sites in Bayahibe with similar characteristics as our sites) had remained about the same as recorded back in 2015. These healthy trajectories may be evidence of a long-term management process that has maintained mean live coral cover stable despite observing significant declines at other similar sites.

The noticeable increases and statistically significant temporal differences among 2011 to 2016 for total fish biomass (TB), including herbivorous fishes (Acanthuridae and Scaridae = 3.4 kg/100 m²) and commercial fishes (Lutjanidae and Serranidae = 3.3 kg/100 m²) suggest that fish assemblages in Bayahibe are in a management process under construction. Some studies indicate that certain fish species can respond to conservation actions after 10 years of protection (Molloy, McLean & Cote, 2009). According to the findings of the present study, the Bayahibe reefs can be compared with other managed fishing areas such as B-NTZ and C-NTZ that present very good threshold values (>3 kg/100 m²) for herbivorous fish biomass in the Caribbean region (Steneck et al., 2019; Martínez-Rendis, Acosta-González & Arias-González, 2020). Indeed, fishing regulations in these sites have been enforced since more than 10 years ago compared with unprotected sites and partially protected areas (Fig. 6). Further, management efforts in these areas also include the user fees for management of their MPAs, restrictions on urban development and visitor’s capacity limits (Perera-Valderrama et al., 2016; Steneck et al., 2019; Martínez-Rendis, Acosta-González & Arias-González, 2020). The enforcement of such actions in Bayahibe may further contribute to a reduction in anthropogenic pressure on fish populations and the seascape in general. Currently, funds and investment are limited and the funds that are available, are expected to support capacity building and enforcement of a very large area (868,900 ha). In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2012) conducted a gap analysis of the legal and policy framework for protected areas in the Dominican Republic and suggested building management capacity and improving participation in all MPAs.

Most of the No-take zones and MPAs analyzed showed good reef health indicators (Jackson et al., 2014; Perera-Valderrama et al., 2016; Steneck et al., 2018, 2019; Martínez-Rendis, Acosta-González & Arias-González, 2020), including the comparison between partially protected areas in Bayahibe (DR, Pe, and PC) vs fished areas (Boca Chica) in the Dominican Republic (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019) (Figs. 5 and 6).

In the wider Caribbean, the decline of coral reefs condition is alarming, currently few sites can tolerate the rapid increases in sea surface temperatures (SSTs), the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching events, and local stress factors challenges (Sully et al., 2019). Region-wide, this decline has been attributed to hurricane impacts, disease outbreaks, bleaching events, or fish herbivory loss (Jackson et al., 2014). These factors put into context the importance of identifying resilient sites using long-term data. Bayahibe’s reefs have experienced lower impacts of heat stress than other regions of the Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Southwestern Caribbean, Southern Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean (Muñiz-Castillo et al., 2019), or the recent impacts of the rapid spread of the stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) outbreak as compared to areas such as Florida’s reefs or Mexican Caribbean (Precht et al., 2016; Alvarez-Filip et al., 2019). In addition, Bayahibe’s reefs are located on the Southeastern end of Hispaniola Island on the leeward side, with low-intensity winds and waves (Chiappone, 2001). This is an important property to maintain a healthy ecosystem, taking into account that each Caribbean site possesses differences in the disturbance regime and local history (Miyazawa et al., 2020). However, there has been a decline in reef condition caused by continuous pressures such as overfishing of herbivorous, land-based source pollution, and habitat destruction (Cramer et al., 2020). Thus, the implementation and enforcement of a combination of passive and active actions in Bayahibe, are an ideal scenario for protecting and recovering ecological dynamics and ecosystem services (Christie et al., 2009) (Fig. 4). In contrast, there are unprotected areas where several activities such as fishing, agriculture and private sector industries are allowed and unregulated (Mellin et al., 2016). For example, Miches and Boca Chica in Dominican Republic (Eastwood, Clary & Melnick, 2017; Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). MPAs from other Caribbean sites have shown low macroalgae cover as a result of the reestablishment of herbivore populations, and promoting coral cover (Mumby & Harborne, 2010; Hughes et al., 2017b). Bayahibe’s collective efforts have been made with the implementation of passive and active management, this may reflect positive feedbacks of reducing the fishing pressure with the permanent closure of fishing activities and boat transit in the “Catuano” channel since 2009. This has allowed observable stability patterns in the ecosystem structure and function, that is, no phase-shift, and increased fish biomass (herbivorous fishes), indicating that grazing pressure can be relatively constant (Arias-González et al., 2017). The fish biomass indicators (TB, HB, and CB) among 2011 to 2016 could be reflecting these positive feedbacks over time. Besides, CB showed higher values in Bayahibe in contrast with Boca Chica (unprotected), this could be related to the establishment of closed seasons by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). After our study, multiple regulations affecting fisheries were passed through government resolutions (Resolution No. 023−17 and No. 023−20). These regulations established either permanent or 2-year (parrot fish only) bands on the capture, possession, and commercialization of all species of sharks, rays, parrot/doctor fish and urchins living in territorial waters, as well as the trade, exports and imports of all derived products. Thus, ecological and social feedbacks may have led to positive feedback “of the grazing pressures” that underpins a healthy reef ecosystem.

Reduction of local stressors

Coral reef systems are linked by the complex ecological relationships of coastal seascape. As such, reducing negative feedbacks becomes a necessity. Our study was primarily undertaken to analyze and correlate WQ components with reef health indicators, in areas with high tourism development. When results from WQ components were analyzed against spatio-temporal variation, no significant differences were observed for the Bayahibe area. However, the temporal dynamic by WQ factors showed pulse events. Microbiological indicators showed higher concentrations during winter months (December and January) and coincided with observed pulse events (2014) for environmental variables such as SST and NUT in this season. These pulse events also coincided with the high season for tourism in the Dominican Republic. Moreover, pulse events were also recorded in the wet season (2012 and 2015) for NUT. The higher turbidity values (NUT) in the B4 site could be due to the proximity of this site to the Dominicus reef tourism area, as a result of the high exposure to human activities that can increase sediment accumulation. In fact, these findings suggest the effects of sediment in that laden runoff can influence pulse events during rainy days (Otaño-Cruz et al., 2017). These trends of WQ variation (pulse events) have often been associated with climate variability, characterized by effects of strong precipitation in many locations in Puerto Rico, including tropical storms during the winter season (Bonkosky et al., 2009; Díaz-Ortega & Hernández-Delgado, 2014; Otaño-Cruz et al., 2017). These results may confer the high influx of coastal activities could have on adjacent reefs systems.

Water quality measurements for the study area were below legal limits (Decree 1594–84), including fecal contamination based on (APHA) and EPA recreational water quality criterion (United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2012). In other Caribbean MPAs, for example in “Tres Palmas” Marine Reserve (TPMR) in Puerto Rico, microbiological indicators did not exceed FC counts (<130 cfu/100 mL) and <35 cfu/100 mL for ENT (Norat-Ramírez et al., 2019). In our study, lower concentrations of microbiological indicators and environmental variables were found (Table S5), these results are consistent with other managed areas, that suggest that the establishment of WQ treatment systems are helping to reduce negative feedback of land-derived stressors (Otaño-Cruz et al., 2019). Furthermore, in this study the WQ components were weakly associated with reef health changes. However, there was a group of variables (TC, ENT and NUT) that need to be observed and addressed over the long-term before they might become a problem. The rationale here is that in other Caribbean reefs, land-based sediments and pollutants have commonly been attributed to coral cover decline (Cramer et al., 2020). These datasets being accumulated, may, in the future, be used to explain appropriate effects of land-based runoff and facilitate the ability to track these changes. Long-term water quality surveys have shown explanatory variables for reef condition and therefore, would be important to continue broadening the spatio-temporal water quality sampling, and incorporate additional significantly important nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) or dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (Arias-González et al., 2016). Taking into account the importance of water quality in regulating the cycling of nutrients (Woodhead et al., 2019), maintaining and/or recovering water quality might be a potential key driver for coral recovery for Caribbean reefs (Pawlik, Burkepile & Thurber, 2016).

Multiple studies described restricting terrestrial runoff including wastewater treatment plants, as a solution to enhance coral reefs health in areas of high development (Andersson et al., 2019). Water treatment in Bayahibe’s MPA has been funded and implemented by private sector initiatives spearheaded by the tourism sector. The main goal is enhancing coastal water quality in an area where tourism activities such as snorkeling, and SCUBA predominate. In contrast there are other areas where the private sector has been hands-off and has allowed treatment plants to degrade and reefs to receive fecal pollution directly or from faulty septic tanks (Norat-Ramírez et al., 2019). For example, in Boca Chica (unprotected area) outside of Santo Domingo, wastewater plants have collapsed due to higher urban activities and lack of upkeep of the facilities (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). In Miches located on the south side of the Samana Bay, there is no sewage or water treatment system (Clary, 2008). The lack of a treatment system has been linked to high abundances of nutrient indicator species and poor reef conditions (Eastwood, Clary & Melnick, 2017). The terrestrial and marine ecosystems linkage supporting the role of land-based protection in order to achieve good reef condition.

Knowing that the invasion of lionfish (Pterois spp.) poses one of the greater threats to coral reefs in the region (Morris, 2012), efforts have been taken to control lionfish populations through capture and removal of individuals. This method has been successful in reducing their densities and biomass in Bayahibe and other Caribbean sites and is considered an accepted tool to reduce localized invasions (Frazer et al., 2012; De León et al., 2013). Further, at Bayahibe, for instance, removal efforts have actively engaged the community and have been socially successful contributing to persistent catches (2,534 lionfish) from 2011 to 2016 of individuals in specific sites, even in events with low participation (2014) but with a high CPUE (Cortés-Useche et al., 2017). This result may be considered successful in terms of catch (i.e., total number of lionfish captured) and coincides with the fact that in several Caribbean Island States, derbies with higher catch are dominated by recreational divers or with a mixed public, using SCUBA diving demonstrating the success factor of community engagement and contrast with artisanal fishers (i.e., usually free-diving) (Malpica-Cruz, Chaves & Côté, 2016). This is just one example of how the community driven, capture and removal method can control invasive species based on long-term stable programs and this show the possibility in a small localized area, where annual use can be intensive during multiple consecutive years, such as sites where tournaments are periodically organized, to observe ecological changes in the abundance and biomass of the invasive species (Barbour et al., 2011). Besides, these events provide food (fishes) supporting vital nutrition to Bayahibe coastal community.

Active coral restoration through the implementation of coral nurseries and the coral gardening methodology has given artisanal fishers, tourism-related industries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government, and the scientific community a unique opportunities to collaborate in local restoration projects (Lirman & Schopmeyer, 2016) and providing a platform for experimental research, cognitive and experiential benefits in in the community of Bayahibe (Calle-Triviño et al., 2018; Woodhead et al., 2019; Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). Over the years, restoration training in Bayahibe has been provided to the local community including fishers, boat captains, tourism service providers, park rangers, diving instructors, divers, university students, etc. In addition, this program included interventions enabled by strong scientific and private partnerships (Bayraktarov et al., 2020). The A. cervicornis restoration program in the area is focused on maximizing growth rates and minimizing mortality (Edwards, 2010). Calle-Triviño et al. (2020) highlights that in Bayahibe there are enough genotypes to expand program and still maintain genetic diversity, indicating that coral nurseries could serve as genotype reservoirs better adapted to the strong environmental changes, and even as havens in the face of disease outbreaks, storms, and extreme temperatures (Schopmeyer et al., 2012; Rinkevich, 2015). The results of the program in Bayahibe under conditions of stress caused by the strong cyclonic seasons in 2016 and 2017 in the Caribbean demonstrate recovery, especially when compared to other regions of the Caribbean such as Puerto Rico (Toledo-Hernández et al., 2018). In the same way, nurseries also serve as aggregation sites for coral larvae, fishes, and other organisms (Amar & Rinkevich, 2007; Shafir & Rinkevich, 2010), contributing to overall ecosystem diversity. In this sense, coral reef restoration may play an active role for the future of the reef.

The dominant corals on Bayahibe’s reefs were the Orbicella spp. complex and Agaricia agaricites. However, Cortés-Useche et al. (2019) and Calle-Triviño et al. (2020) recorded the presence of A. cervicornis in nearby sites. Thus, broadening the monitoring efforts may increase information regarding the distribution and occurrence of the threatened staghorn coral A. cervicornis. This finding emphasizes coral composition in Bayahibe dominated by reef-building corals in contrast with other locations across the Caribbean region; dominated by species of genus Porites spp. which reduces the complexity of the habitat and modifying ecosystem functions (Perry et al., 2015). Accordingly, coral reefs with structural complexity may be considered as service providers of coastal protection from waves and extreme weather events.

Bayahibe as a case study of coral reefs management

One of the main contributions of this work is the use of reef health indicators over time, taking into account multi-ecological drivers effects and the stability of alternative states in Caribbean reefs. Our reef health indicators for Bayahibe suggest that reefs within the Bayahibe reef track are in good condition, taking into account Reef Health Index (McField et al., 2018) (Fig. 4). Reef health and resilience includes several components. Thus, the implementation of passive and active actions is not the absolute solution for coral reef recovery. In this study, we observed that local management has the potential to contribute to a reduction of local stress on these reefs, which have remained stable even with a local disturbance regime characterized by low impacts of hurricanes, heat stress and outbreaks of coral diseases. The combination of these factors eventually can improve ecosystem function such as fish assemblages and coral species composition, thus, provides benefits gained from having a healthy reef ecosystem and key habitat such as important refugia for species (Woodhead et al., 2019). Also, improved local management may contribute to ecosystem services for local economies, and livelihoods (Hernández-Delgado, 2015). This includes, for the Bayahibe area, provisioning services such as food products, coastal protection from damages inflicted by natural events, and substantial economic benefits such as jobs creation, income generation and tourism activities. Hence, this puts into context that any appropriately managed network of MPAs, with interventions enabled by strong scientific and private partnerships, can improve the efficacy of interventions and provide ecosystem and socio-economic benefits for areas of high tourism development such as the southeastern Dominican Republic (Calle-Triviño et al., 2020; Bayraktarov et al., 2020). For example, in the study area, the responsible tourism movement “Wave of Change” of the Iberostar group created its land-based facility to contribute as a platform for research and environmental education (Schmidt-Roach et al., 2020).

The establishment of MPAs in the Dominican Republic is an important piece of the management process and should be a significant national policy. Recently, the government joined several global conservation initiatives and sustainable finance mechanisms. However, how MPA governance influences conservation outcomes remains undervalued. Staffing and budget capacity has been very limited in many MPAs such as the SCRMS and GCNRA, where there is reduced control and enforcement of fishing regulations (Cortés-Useche et al., 2019). However, there is one example that stands out. It is to our knowledge, that there is a signed agreement for the co-management of the SCRMS and a management and action plan is being prepared which includes the establishment of map zoning the different uses of coastal (fishing, tourism, research and conservation). Currently, the combined impact of local environmental degradation, poor governance capacity of some Caribbean island states in terms of staff capacity and financial budget is a challenge for reef managers (Gombos et al., 2011; McConney & Pena, 2012). Further, these managers have a limited toolbox on which to rely on to mitigate threats (Aswani et al., 2015). Data presented here of local management processes, and enforcement of fishing regulations for all MPAs in the study areas. However, effectiveness will depend on political and social long-term commitment, multidisciplinary approaches based on solid science using technological tools, and well-devised action plans (Bearzi, 2007; Foo & Asner, 2019). It requires compliance with several seascapes conservation-oriented key management factors (Edgar et al., 2014), such as the establishment of; (1) fishery recovery zones, (2) fishing and other recreation zones (zonification), (3) marine and coastal biological corridors between MPAs, (4) adequate MPA spatial size, and design, and (5) planning land use and management of adjacent water basins. We agree with several studies suggesting that a combination of reef rehabilitation techniques and appropriate management actions can improve their ecosystem’s recovery capacity and provide alternatives for sustainable conservation (Rinkevich, 2014; Hernández-Delgado, Mercado-Molina & Suleimán-Ramos, 2018). Restoration efforts in the area should be focused on scaling up reef-building species, rehabilitation, and the genetic study of corals resistant to heat stress and diseases (Morikawa & Palumbi, 2019).