Population: 100,294,036 (July 1999 est.)   Land Area: Total: 1,972,550 sq km Land: 1,923,040 sq km Water: 49,510 sq km    Coastline: 9,330 km EEZ area: 3,149,920 sq. km   (Source:  INEGI, 1999;  CIA World Factbook, 2000; Cicin-Sain et al., 2000)

Mexico                                ..........in this page Contacts  Basic Data  Maritime Jurisdiction  Primary Levels of Governments Involved in ICM  Institutions Regarding Oceans and Coasts  Strategies for ICM  ICM Coordination Mechanism  Other ICM Efforts  Environmental Laws and Policy Instruments for ICM  ICM Program Operation  International Agreements Related to Oceans and Coasts  Capacity Building  Funding  Problems Encountered  References      Contacts Secretaria de (SEMARNAP) http://www.semarnap.gob.mx Office of the Zona Federal Maritimo Terrestre (ZOFEMAT) http://www.semarnap.gob.mx/gestion/estructura/directorio/ssrn/atrib/Zfedter.htm Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INE) http://www.ine.gob.mx/ Instituto Nacional de la Pesca (INP) http://inp.semarnap.gob.mx/ Procuraduria Federal del Medio Ambiente (PROFEPA) http://www.profepa.gob.mx/     (Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)   OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS 1. Maritime Jurisdictions The territorial sea (12 nm): claimed on December 13, 1966 The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (200 nm): claimed on June 31, 1974 Mexico ratified the Law of the Sea Convention III on March 18, 1983 2. Primary Levels of Government Involved in ICM In Mexico the decision-making process regarding ICM seeks to integrate environmental impacts together with the administration and sustainable development of the coastal zone (Zarate-Lomeli et al.,1999). The direct Ministry responsible for the ICM in Mexico is the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP), through the following administrative units (CSD, 1999): Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE)  Unidad Coordinadora de Areas Naturales Protegidas Dirección General de Ordenamiento Ecológico e Impacto Ambiental Dirección General de Vida Silvestre Subsecretaría de Pesca  Dirección General de Administración de Pesquerías Dirección General de Infraestructura Pesquera Dirección General de Acuacultura Subsecretaría de Recursos Naturales  Dirección General de Restauración y Conservación de Suelos Dirección General de Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre  Instituto Nacional de Pesca (INP)  Dirección General de Desarrollo Sustentable Comisión Nacional del Agua (CNA)  Gerencia de Servicio a Usuarios Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (PROFEPA)  Subprocuraduría de Recursos Naturales In order to strengthen the ICM process, there is a need for better international network and coordination mechanisms between the federal, state and local agencies; and academic institutions (CSD, 1999). Other federal institutions related to ICM are: Port authority which resides in the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, and the Administraciones Portuarias Integrales (APIs) formed to grant concessions for the administration, building, operation, and services (INEGI, 1999). The Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente (PROFEPA) is in charge of the monitoring, enforcing and surveillance of the coastal and marine zone. Water quality is under surveillance of the Comision Nacional del Agua (CNA). Institutions that participate in coastal and marine environmental protection are: SEMAR. Participates in clean-up and contingency activities Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT). Participates in maritime issues Secretaría de Salud (SS). Human health PEMEX. Monitoring and contingency plans Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo (IMP). Monitoring Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (CENAPRED). Contingency and risk assessment State and local governments The SEMARNAP and SEMAR are responsible for the use and sustainable conservation of coastal and marine resources in the high seas and under national jurisdiction. The INE through the Dirección General de Vida Silvestre y la Unidad Coordinadora de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, is responsible for the coastal and marine protected areas. 3. Institutions Regarding Oceans and Coasts In Mexico there are several groups whose presence is required for decision-making in ICM. These groups gather information, find consensus among different interests, and orient authorities about the diverse national and international agreements related to the environment. These assessment groups act through the following entities: Consejo Consultivo Nacional para el Desarrollo Sustentable; integrates four Regional Councils Watershed Councils Watershed Commissions Meetings for close seasons determinations. With the participation of productive sectors, the Instituto Nacional de Pesca, which provides the scientific data for decision-making, and the Subsecretaría de Pesca, which considers the agreements. National Committee for Fisheries and Marine Resources, composed of six State Committees. Natural Protected Areas, the representatives from all sectors involved in a geographic area, local communities, NGOs, institutions and organizations; and from the three levels of government (federal, state, and municipal) participate in the Technical Assessment Council, which is constituted for each protected area. Selected experts and researchers are elected to form part of the National Council for Protected Areas, which is the institution that assesses and recommends actions to SEMARNAP regarding conservation, protection, administration and management of those areas. The Special Program for Sustainable Use of Beaches, federal land-marine zones, and claimed lands, considers the participation of the three levels of government, as well as all sectors of society. The same is expected for the technical support and specialized studies. The decision-making process is supported by research institutions and universities. For Land and Marine Ecological Ordinances, the participation of all sectors, public, private and social, from the elaboration of the plan through its implementation, validation and evaluation, is fundamental. 4. Strategies for ICM Currently, there are three coastal management strategies in Mexico: Strategy 1: Agency leadership. The SEMARNAP takes on a leadership role over part of the functions of three other agencies: Fishing, Agriculture, and Social Development. The idea behind SEMARNAP is the integral management, conservation, and sustainable development of natural resources. The ZOFEMAT was created in 1996 as a response for the need of finding coordinating mechanism for the integrated administration of the beaches, federal coastal zone and gained lands. Strategy 2: Protected Areas. Another strategy for coastal management implementation is accomplished through the National System for Protected Areas (NSPA), which seeks the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the Protected Natural Areas (PNA). This strategy stresses the purpose of multiplying and diversifying financial mechanisms as well as the participation and co-responsability of the management activities shared between state and municipal governments, private sector, academic institutions and social organizations. Currently the PNA has 89 protected areas which cover a surface of nearly 5% of the national territory (10 millions ha). There are 38 national protected areas in the coastal and marine zones of Mexico (SEMARNAP, 1999). Strategy 3. Ecological Land Ordinance (ELO). In Mexico, the ELO coordinates regional and intersectoral efforts, and settles the base for the development of the Program of Regional Sustainable Development, which consists of a group of policies, actions and projects for the enhancement of public, social and private investment in order to encourage the sustainable development of the natural resources. This effort is accomplished within three levels: 1. Changes that affect the natural environment; 2. Introduced changes on the productive system; 3. Changes in the national development policies, international commerce, and so on. Ecological Marine Ordinance (EMO). Promotes the same aim as the ELO but at federal level. Considering the necessity to manage human activities in the EEZ, in 1998 the first study of the Ecological Marine Ordinance in the Mar de Cortes (Gulf of California) it was initiated. This EMO was developed as an interdisciplinary action among academics, researchers and government, which resulted in the identification of key indicators of marine and coastal productivity; fisheries characterization; ecological processes for management and protection; and the economic valuation of human activities within the region.     5. ICM Coordination Mechanism Traditionally in Mexico, the exploitation of coastal and marine resources had been done in a sector-by-sector basis, without any attempt of integrating all existent efforts for the governance and management of the coastal zone and its resources. Nevertheless, the National Plan for Develoment 1995-2000 in consideration of the coastal zone as a good place for urban and industrial development, underlines the importance of implementing and enforcing environmental legislation and regulations; promoting the economic growth, and the better management of users and uses of the coastal zone (Saavedra Vazquez, 1996). In 1996 the "Programa Especial de Aprovechamiento Sustentable de las Playas, la Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre y los Terrenos Ganados al Mar 1996-2000" (PEAS) was developed, which entered into force on April the 2nd 1997. This program is consistent with the provisions adopted by Agenda 21 regarding ICM, and with the recommendations made by the OECD Council about ICM. This program acknowledges the necessity of integrating all levels of government, public and private sectors, and academics in the implementation and enforcement of legal instruments that will enhance the sustainable administration process of the coastal and marine resources and environments. The type of approach to ICM followed by this program is broader, regulatory, with land ordinance planning, and tries to foster capacity building through education of government officials and the public. The collection of taxes for granting the right for exploitation, use and enjoyment of the federal marine-land zone, or any other deposit of marine waters, is regulated through Annex 1 of the Convenio de Colaboración Administrativa en Materia Fiscal Federal, signed by the federal government through the SHCP (Tax Bureau) together with coastal state governments. These taxes will be distributed among the three levels of government according to the following percentages: 10% for the coastal state, 10% for the municipio, and 10% for the federation. These resources will be utilized for the ordinance, surveillance, maintenance, preservation, cleaning and administration of beaches, federal zone, and claimed lands in the coastal zone. The Agreement of Coordination for the Use of Beaches, the Federal Land-Maritime Zone, and Claimed Lands represents an instrument to foster public and sectoral participation, and help for local, state and federal authorities on ICM issues. The ultimate goal of these actions is to develop programs and strategies oriented towards the ordinance of the coastal zone, especially in: delimitation, census, urban and ecological zoning, inspection and surveillance. Each agreement establishes guidelines for the linkage between the parties, and operates through a State Committee for the Sustainable Use of the Federal Land-Marine Zone (SEMARNAP, 1999).     6. Other ICM Efforts  The Programa de Pesca y Acuacultura 1995-2000 and the Programa de Medio Ambiente 1995-2000 involve the protection of coastal and marine environments for activities performed in the dry and wet sides, such as: non-point-source pollution; urban and industrial sewage; by-catch discharge; oil spills, and so forth. For the use and sustainable conservation of marine resources, there are the following federal programs and sub-programs: Programa de Medio Ambiente 1995 - 2000 Programa de Pesca y Acuacultura 1995 -2000 Programa de Marina Programa Nacional de Tortugas Marinas Programa Nacional de Mamíferos Marinos Subprogram for the research of evaluation, improvement and fisheries management.       Project: Sustainability of fisheries (Effort) Subprogram for the research of the processes for the sustainable development Programa de Conservación de la Vida Silvestre y Diversificación Productiva en el Sector Rural 1997-2000 Programa de Medio Ambiente 1995 - 2000 Programa de Áreas Naturales Protegidas de México 1995-2000 Programa de Pesca y Acuacultura 1995 -2000 Subprograma de Investigación en Procesos para el Desarrollo Sustentable Subprograma de Protección, Conservación y Rehabilitación de Hábitat y Especies Proyecto Diagnóstico de Ecosistemas Lagunares Costeros y Marinos Subprograma de Investigación en Evaluación, Optimización y Manejo de las Pesquerías Proyecto: Sustentabilidad de las Pesquerías (Determinación del esfuerzo pesquero) Programs related to the integrated administration of the coastal zone and sustainable development are (CSD, 1999): Programa de Modernización de la Flota Pesquera Programa de Acuacultura Comercial Programa de Acuacultura Rural Subprograma de Investigación en Procesos para el Desarrollo Sustentable Subprograma de Protección, Conservación y Rehabilitación de Hábitat y Especies. Proyecto Diagnóstico de Ecosistemas Lagunares Costeros y Marinos Subprograma de Ordenamiento Pesquero Subprograma de Rehabilitación de Sistemas Lagunarios Costeros The National Program for the Diagnostic of Coastal Ecosystems and the Regulation of the Shrimp Production Units, which is implemented in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora. The partner institutions for this program are: Dirección General de Acuacultura of the Subsecretaría de Pesca, INP, PROFEPA and INE, through the Dirección General de Ordenamiento Ecológico e Impacto Ambiental (SEMARNAP, 1999).     7. Environmental Laws and Policy Instruments for ICM The following environmental laws consititute the legal framework for ICM in the Mexican coasts and marine zones (Saavedra Vazquez, 1996; Camara de Diputados, 1999): Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente (LGEEPA). Establishes through environmental impact assessments, the conditions to bind any activities that may alter the ecological equilibrium, or trespass the limits and established conditions in the regulations for the protection, preservation and restoration of ecosystems, in order to mitigate any adverse effect in the environment (Saavedra Vazquez, 1996). The relevant laws and instruments for coastal and marine zones considered by the ELO for generating proposals are (Saavedra Vazquez, 1996):  Ley de Aguas Nacionales (1992) and its Regulation (1994) Ley Federal del Mar (1986) and the Reglamento para el Uso y Aprovechamiento del Mar Territorial, Vías Navegables, Playas, Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre y Terrenos Ganados al Mar (1991) Ley de Puertos (1993) and its Regulation (1994) Ley de Pesca (1992) and its regulation These laws and regulations promote the compatible use of land and water to enhance the ordinance programs. Ley General de Bienes Nacionales. Promoted from Article 27 of the Constitution, establishes a list of the goods that are property of the Nation, among them are shorelines, beaches and claimed lands to the sea. Derived from the LGEEPA, the Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOMs) set bindings for the maximum permissible emission of pollutants in different environments; establish the conditions for monitoring such pollutants; and at the same time promote the technological improvement. Ley de Acceso a los Recursos Genéticos. Regulates the access of genetic resources for agriculture, forestry, wild and marine. Currently SEMARNAP is making a public consult     8. ICM Program Operation Regional Coastal Ordinance (RCO). The RCOs involve the protection and conservation policies for fragile ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. Up to now, there are nine regions with an ecological ordinance; and six, which have already concluded the studies for the ecological land ordinance. Table 1. Status of the Ecological Land Ordinance effort per ocean (sources: CSD, 1999; SEMARNAP, 1999). ECOLOGICAL ORDINANCE (Pacific Coast) STATUS ECOLOGICAL ORDINANCE (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean) STATUS Bufadora Punta Banda, B.C. Concluded Costa de Tamaulipas Updated Corredor Tijuana-Ensenada, B.C Decreed Desembocadura del Río Pánuco Concluded Estatal de Baja California Decreed La Pesca Concluded Mar de Cortés Decreed San Fernando, Tamaulipas Concluded Corredor Loreto-Nopoló, B.C.S. In process of implementation Cuenca Baja del Río Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz Aproved Corredor Los Cabos, B.C.S. Decreed Desembocadura del Río Pánuco Concluded Municipal Los Cabos, B.C.S. Decreed Centro-Noroeste de Tabasco Concluded Puerto de San Carlos, B.C.S. Concluded Costa de Campeche Updated Bahía de San Francisco, Son. Concluded Corredor Cancún-Tulúm Decreed and  updated Puerto Peñasco, Son. Concluded Costa Maya, Quintana Roo Aproved Costa de Sinaloa Updated Isla de Cozumel. Quintana Roo Aproved Estero el Sábalo; Sin. Concluded Sistema Lagunar Nichupté, Quintana Roo Decreed Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit Decreed Costa de Nayarit Updated Costa de Jalisco Decreed, Published and Implemented Costa de Michoacán In process of implementation Lázaro Cárdenas In process of implementation Acapulco-Punta Diamante-Tres Palos, Guerrero Aproved Costa de Oaxaca Updated Huatulco, Oaxaca In process of implementation Itsmo, Oaxaca (Salina Cruz) Concluded Sta. Ma. Tonameca. Oaxaca Concluded Costa de Chiapas Updated   9. International Agreements Related to Oceans and Coasts Mexico has signed the following international agreements (CSD, 1999): a. International conventions, including regional agreements North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) North American Comission for the Environmental Cooperation Bilateral Agreement for the protection of the marine environments facing in-land activities performed at the marine baisn of California Organization for the cooperation and economic development, working with the Fisheries Committee of the chapter on Sustainability of Oceans and Economic Valuation Agreement for the protection and development of the marine environment in the Caribbean region. Regional effort for the creation of a regional protected area with the participation of the governments of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and México called "Mesoamerican Reef System". International Comition for the Trade and Commercialization of Endangered Species (CITES). Mexico regulates those species listed and develops actualized legal tools. Bilateral agreement between Mexico and Cuba for the valuation of groupersí fisheries in the Gulf of México. Agreement of understanding of fisheries between Mexico and the U.S. in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. Code for responsible fisheries, harmonized with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Program 1995 ñ 2000 (Camara de Diputados, 1999). Programa de Acción Mundial (PAM) for the Protection of the marine environment facing land-source-pollution Whaling Convention International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention on Biological Diversity. Mexico is working focusing in marine biodiversity and critical habitats London Convention MARPOL (73/78) Convention Continental Platform Convention Convention for the Territorial and Contiguous zone U.N. Convention for the Law of the Sea Agreement fot fisheries and the conservation of living resources Agreement on High Seas Agreement of the Latinoamerican Organization for the Fisheries Development International agreement with Central American countries for the preservation of the Mesoamerican System. RAMSAR Convention UNESCO World Heritage Convention b. Other regional agreements  Conveying bottom-up and top-bottom efforts for coastal and marine management are: Costa Maya Corridor, Quintana Roo; Nayaritís coast; Campecheís coast; Cancún-Tulum Corridor, Quintana Roo; Jaliscoís coast; Cozumel Island and its marine zone, Quintana Roo.; Nichupté Lagoon, Quintana Roo; coral reef systems of Quintana Roo, and Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. c. As an example of regional cooperative agreement for the protection and sustainable use of a marine zone  The Mesoamerican Reef System management program. Other regional agreements regarding marine pollution are: the UN Convention of Sea Right (CONVEMAR); the Cartagena Convention; and the World Action Program for the protection of the marine environmetn for land-based activities (CSD, 1999). Through the Comisión Nacional para la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), together with the Senate of the Republic.     10. Capacity Building Federal initiatives. In order to improve the understanding of government officials about sustainable use and management policies for the coastal zone, there have been several attempts to improve, enhance, and foster the administration of the coastal zone in Mexico. Trainning courses for the three levels of government, as well as for private and public sectors have been organized: The Taxes Minister (Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico), and Semarnap have promoted ten workshops regarding the "fee system" for beaches, and federal marine/terrestrial zones, with the participation of state and municipal officials from both ministeries in the states of: Colima, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Michoacán, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Veracruz, and Jalisco. Semarnap had organized three courses about the administration of beaches, federal marine and terrestrial with the participation of municipal and state authorities from the states of Tamaulipas, Yucatán, and Campeche. Another three workshops were hold for federal chairmen of 17 state delegations of SEMARNAP. The Centro de Capacitación para el Desarrollo Sustentable (Cecadesu) of Semarnap implemented a course about ICM, to the following institutions: INE, PROFEPA, IMTA (Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua), CNA, INP, Dirección General de Restauración y Conservación de Suelos, Dirección General de Administración de Pesquerías, Dirección General de Acuacultura, Dirección General de Infraestructura Pesquera, and the ZOFEMAT. The Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública (INAP) developed two diploma courses "The administration of the National Goods", which included the chapter of "Las playas, la zona federal marítimo terrestre y los terrenos ganados al mar, como bienes nacionales." These diploma courses mainly targeted government officials as well as professionals with law, administration, accounting, and economy. Development of disgnosis and planning studies for the port of Acapulco, after the hurricaine "Pauline", for the Comité de Desarrollo Urbano del Puerto de Acapulco, and the Comité de Cauces y Arroyos of CNA. The most recent effort for ICM capacity building and program development took place in Melaque, Jalisco 13 to 18 December 1999. During this first National ICM Workshop, participants from all sectors related to coastal and marine issues, were present to understand the importance of the integrated effort for the harmonization and sustainable use of the coastal and marine resources and ecosystems. As a result of this workshop, all participants made important conclusions and established collaborative efforts for developing an intersectoral political integration for the sustainable development of the coastal and marine zones. An important and innovative offspring was the signature of the Declaracion de Melaque, which embraces recommendations for the improvement of the current coastal management; for the development of ICM pilot projects; fostering intersectoral collaboration; and future organization and participation in the First ICM National Congress. State initiatives. SEMARNAP, through the INA, INP and state delegations provide assessment and information for local and state authorities to develop and implement their coastal management plans. SEMARNAP has tried to homogenize sectoral and state methodologies for their priority development programs, through the "Planificación Orientada a Objetivos" (ZOPP in German). SEMARNAP is also involved in the design and implementation of new technological advances for the improvement of fisheries management; as well as to assess the fisheries industry about the implementation of the NOMs, especially in the system of risk analysis and control of critical points. Participation of NGOs. Together with academics and officials from SEMARNAP, NGOs developed the management plan for the riberine fisheries of the Golfo de California. At the same time, Amigos de Sian Kaían (NGO) responsible for the administration of the Reserve of the Biosphere of Sian Kaían, will participate in the Comisión de Gestión de Ecosistemas of the IUCN in the formation of an international network to develop the guidelines for the management of ecosystems, with scientific basis, and considering regional necessities. Amigos de Sian Kaían developed the "Programa de Manejo Integrado de los Recursos Costeros en Quintana Roo". Education and Scientific Infrastructure. Mexico has manifested its interest in its coastal and marine zones through the development and implementation of undergraduate, graduate, and technical programs, directed to the exploitation, conservation, culture and administration of coastal and marine resources. There is an important effort in training of specialists in marine sciences. The Education Ministery (SEP) has 32 schools for technical training (highschool) in marine and coastal related studies, with 5 programs with 18 different options. SEP also has five undergraduate schools, which offer 9 programs on marine sciences, with 26 options, as well as 2 technical specialization programs. SEP also has 38 school-vessels for the education and research of the marine environment. The fleet is distributed all along the country shoreline. At graduate level, SEP has three programs: Master in Industrial Fisheries; Master in ICM; and Master in Electronic Engineer. Beside these efforts, the National University of Mexico (UNAM) has a college divided into three campuses (Facultad de Ciencias; ENEP-Zaragoza and ENEP-Iztacalco), and a research institute devoted to marine sciences, the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology (ICMyL). At the UNAM there are undergraduate and graduate programs for a number of different coastal and marine concentrations. The ICMyL owns two research oceanographic vessels and three permanent research laboratories, one in each coast. Besides the research activities performed in this institution, the ICMyL offers a master and a PhD program on coastal and marine sciences. The importance of the UNAM relies on its huge infrastructure, as well as the fact of the significant research related to coasts and marine environments performed there. The Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN) has also two research centers (CINVESTAV, units in Merida and La Paz) devoted to coastal and marine projects. Other two universities devoting a college and several undergraduate and graduate programs for coasts and oceans are the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (Campuses Xochimilco and Iztapalapa), and the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey (with several campuses in the country). Besides, each coastal state has a state university (two in Campeche), as well as several private institutions, which offer several options for undergraduate and graduate programs for marine and coastal studies, and for research in the following fields: coastal and marine sciences; fisheries; ecology; aquaculture, and mariculture; environmental law; environmental economy; and technology of marine food among others. It is important to mention that the Mexican Navy and Army; PEMEX (through the Instituto Nacional del Petroleo); CFE; CNA; INP (through the CRIPs); PROFEPA, among others, have been collaborating in environmental education, coastal and marine research, monitoring, and contingency projects for a while. Each of these institutions have infrastructure and personnel to perform environmental studies or contingency actions when hazardous or punctual events occurred (such as floods, hurricanes, oil spills, and so forth). Public Awareness. The Mexican government has tried to develop public awareness regarding coastal and marine issues. Federal and state governments have sponsored expositions in museums; T.V. spots; documentaries; and other diffusion materials to develop a better understanding about coastal and marine issues. During one of these activities, the exposition "Exposición ¿ Conoces del mar ? Del huanacaxtle a la fibra de vidrio. Por una nueva ética individual y colectiva en torno al manejo de los mares", assistants to the exposition were asked to sign the "Carta de los Oceanos" (Letter of the Oceans), as a significant compromise to sustain commitment to and awareness of coastal and ocean issues. Parallel to this exposition, there was another with information about academic programs, schools and universities offered by members of the IOC subcommittee. Other important activities for public awarness and environmental education are held in each coastal state with public and private funding. At the National Marine Park of Isla Contoy, Q. Roo, there is a permanent program for the education of boatsí crew dedicated to fisheries, transportation and tourism activities (SEMARNAP 1997). Onother activity performed along the seashore in several states is beach cleaning, and this activity is coordinated by the Center for Marine Conservation.     11. Funding Resources derived from the operation of PEAS through the "fee system" are distributed among the three levels of government according to the following percentages: 10% for the coastal state, 10% for the municipio, and 10% for the federation. The "fee system" is the result of numerous negotiations and agreements made between the SEMARNAP, the Secretaria de Hacienda y Credito Publico (SHCP) (Tax Bureau), Banobras, and coastal state governments, through the signing of Annex 1: Convenio de Colaboracion Administrativa en Materia Fiscal with coastal states. The financial resources collected are supposed to be utilized for the ordinance, surveillance, maintenance, preservation, cleaning and administration of beaches, federal zone, and claimed lands in the coastal zone. In addition, for FY2000, thirty percent of the 8 million dollars collected in the FY99, will be devoted to the creation of the federal funding to aid coastal states to implement the management program for the coastal zone (SEMARNAP, 1999). Besides the municipal budget coming from the collection of fees for the use of the coastal zone; and several studies made for the coastal ordinance have been funded by international institutions, such as the World Bank and OAS. Natural Protected areas are funded with fiscal and credit foreign funds; international donor agencies, such as GEF and national and international NGOís donations. In both cases, there is always national money, but the amount varies according to the case (SEMARNAP, 1999). Another important source of funding for marine and coastal studies is the Consejo Nacional de las Ciencias y Tecnologia (CONACYT), through various channels. One of them is the Regional Research System (RRS), which enhances the decentralization and development of science and technology, while promoting regional development; through the participation of the production, academic and governmental sectors. There are nine RRS participating actively with the states as well as federal and state agencies. For the Pacific Coast: Sistema de Investigación del Mar de Cortés (SIMAC); Sistema de Investigación José María Morelos (SIMORELOS); and Sistema de Investigación Benito Juárez (SIBEJ). For the Gulf and Caribbean: Sistema de Investigación del Golfo de México (SIGOLFO); Sistema de Investigación Justo Sierra (SISIERRA); and Sistema de Investigación Alfonso Reyes (SIREYES). There are other national mechanisms to provide financial support for the research on the coasts and oceans of Mexico: FOMES; CONABIO; State Universities, among others.     12. Problems Encountered During the operational phase of the ICM program, SEMARNAP has encountered a number of problems, which are solved as the program is operating. These problems can be divided into the following main types: Political will for the institutionalization of the ICM program; which, once approved by the Mexican Senate, will be considered as a permanent program that will receive federal funding. Update the bureaucratic apparatus with the concomitant innovation of operational legal and economic tools; which help to speed up agreements, actions, saving time and funds. Incompatibility of interagenciesí jurisdictional and legal frameworks; which limited the cooperation and collaboration horizontally between interagencies and intersectors. Corruption; which is a decreasing issue within this operational phase because federal officers in charge are pretty strict about personnel receiving bribes or making "special favors". Users and uses conflicts; for which solutions are still being sought through the collaboration at both horizontal and vertical axis; finding alternative, and innovative fiscal, legal and/or economic instruments for decision-making in the coastal and marine zones. Lack of trained personnel and public awareness; which have been reduced by a series of courses, workshops and symposia made ex professo for government officials or for the public. Increment of public participation; which was already considered for the law, and has been fostered by the democratization athmosphere and by enhancing the public environmental education. There were a number of problems that need to be solved, and actions that need to be taken before President Zedillo's administration ends. The most important one is to seek the institutionalization of the ICM program, because this action would give the coastal management in Mexico a place within the federal budget; and therefore a permanence despite the change in administration.     13. References Almanac of Mexico, 1995. [http://www.mexico-travel.com/] Arriaga Cabrera, L, E. Vazquez-Dominguez, J. Gonzalez-Cano, R. Jimenez-Rosenberg, E. Munoz Lopez, V. Aguilar Sierra (cords.). , 1998. Regiones Prioritarias Marinas de Mexico. Comision Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiersidad, Mexico. Avalos, f., 1992. The Mexican Legal System: a reference guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. [http://www.law.Arizona.edu/library/mexlegal.htm] Camara de Diputados, 1999. Marco Juridico Mexicano [http://www.camaradediputados.gob.mx/marco/index.html] Clark, J.R., 1995. Coastal Zone Management, Handbook. Lewis Publ., USA, 694 p. Diario Oficial de la Federacion, 1996. Segunda Seccion, Secretaria de hacienda y Credito Publico, Lunes 30 de Diciembre de 1999, p. 102. Durand, L. and L. Neyra, 1997. La Poblacion en Mexico. CONABIO. [http://www.conabio.gob.mx/biodiversidad/pob.htm] Enriquez Kanfachi, J. de la L., 1998. Hacia un Manejo Integral Costero en Mexico, el caso de las playas, la zona federal maritime terrestre y los terrenos ganados al mar. Tesis de Licenciatura (Ciencias Politicas y Administracion Publica), Univ. Iberoamericana, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. History of the Catholic Church in Mexico, 1999. [http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bill/316/paper2/moorhead/jm1.html] Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica (INEGI), 1999. 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Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, EPOMEX Serie Cientifica, 5. SEMARNAP, 1997. Progama de Manejo del Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, Mexico. 123 p. SEMARNAP, 1999. Mexico, Sustentabilidad de los oceanos, politicas nacionales e internacionales, Mexico, 32 p. [http://www.semarnap.gob.mx] [http://www.semarnap.gob.mx/gestion/estructura/directorio/ssrn/atrib/Zfedter.htm] [http://www.semarnap.gob.mx/programa2000/index.htm] Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), 1999. Agenda 21. Natural Resource Aspects of Sustainable Development in Mexico. http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/mexico/natur.htm ] Zarate-Lomeli, D., J.L. Rojas Galaviz, T. Saavedra Vazquez, 1996. La evaluacion del impacto ambiental en Mexico: recomendaciones para zonas costeras, p. 571-586. . In: A.V. Botello, J.L. Rojas Galaviz, J.A. Benitez, D. Zarate-Lomeli (eds.). Golfo de Mexico, Contaminacion e Impacto Ambiental: Diagnostico y Tendencias. Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, EPOMEX Serie Cientifica, 5. Zarate Lomeli, D. T. Saavedra Vazquez, J.L. Rojas Galaviz, A. Yanez-Arancibia. E. Rivera-Arriaga, 1999. Terms of reference towards an integrated management policy in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Ocean and Coastal Management, 42: 345-368 Country profile prepared by Evelia Rivera-Arriaga, Center for the Study of Marine Policy, University of Delaware     (top)

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