Iberostar backs marine protection

As Jamaica pursues its goal of protecting 30 per cent of its coastal and marine ecosystems by 2030, Iberostar Hotel & Resort is pointing to the Grange Pen Fish Sanctuary in St James as evidence that tourism and conservation can work hand in hand to deliver lasting environmental and community benefits.
The sanctuary featured prominently at the recent Jamaica for the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference, where tourism executives, policymakers and conservation specialists examined ways to safeguard marine ecosystems while supporting economic growth.
Victor Galván, Iberostar’s global director of nature, argued that conservation spending should be seen as an investment rather than a compliance exercise.
“Investing in conservation should not simply be viewed as regulatory compliance,” he said. “It involves taking actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems which, in turn, address societal challenges, providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. By investing in nature, we are building more resilient destinations, stronger communities, and a more competitive tourist industry for the future.”
Established in 2025 through a partnership involving the Oracabessa Marine Trust, local fishing communities and government agencies, the 3.3 million-square-metre Grange Pen Fish Sanctuary aims to restore marine habitats, strengthen biodiversity and improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change.
As part of its support, Iberostar has developed a multi-species coral nursery within the protected area to aid reef restoration and improve the long-term health of Jamaica’s marine environment.
Galván stressed that scaling such initiatives requires collaboration between businesses, governments, communities and conservation groups. He said Jamaica was well placed to deepen that approach and expand blended financing for marine conservation and the blue economy.
Jamaica’s conservation target forms part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, under which countries have committed to protecting 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030.
Discussions at the conference also underscored the vulnerability of coastal tourism destinations to climate change and the growing importance of nature-based solutions to protect natural assets and strengthen resilience over the longer term.
The sanctuary operates under a community-based management model that involves local fisherfolk in the co-management of the protected area while creating jobs for park wardens, coral gardeners and sanctuary managers. Supporters argue that the arrangement also strengthens long-term stewardship of Jamaica’s marine resources.
According to an Iberostar release, the sanctuary forms part of the company’s Wave of Change sustainability programme, through which biodiversity considerations are integrated into hotel operations, procurement and development.
“The Grange Pen Fish Sanctuary forms part of sustainability movement Iberostar Wave of Change, through which the company integrates biodiversity into hotel operations, procurement and development,” the release states. “Through partnerships, such as this, Iberostar continues to advance its responsible tourism approach by investing in initiatives that protect coastal ecosystems, strengthen local communities, develop partnerships and enhance the long-term resilience of the destinations where it operates.”
adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com