Congratulations to Colombia on the declaration of Isla Ají, a new 246 km² marine protected area on the Pacific coast, home to Humpback Whales, Critically Endangered Largetooth Sawfish, and threatened sea turtles. Protecting this incredible coastal ecosystem was a team effort led by the local Afro-Colombian community council of Naya River and the Colombian government, with support from TheWCS and Rewild. Communities in this remote coastal region rely on Ají’s vibrant waters for fishing and traditional resources. This new protected area ensures that local people and species will continue to benefit from healthy tidal wetlands, mudflats, and #bluecarbon ecosystems like mangrove forests for years to come, boosting Colombia’s climate. #ocean #conservation #oceanoptimism #Colombia (Photo: Darren Lawrence)