Roatan man and Henry it is so easy to be negative about trying to implement change but it is all about mindset, it's about educating people to do things differently. MPA have proven a positive effect on on fish stocks health within a year...so who will benefit? I guess every one the reef, marine life, the community and the tourists.
About being naive there are more people on the island either direct or indirect benefiting from tourism then you can imagine.
The only thing that is needed to help is support by doing it together with the locals coming up with plans they will directly benefit from and set goals they buy in to with support of the Major, step by step it is all possible.
Roatan man I don't think you are aware of the challenges communities are facing over there a fisherman has to travel out to sea for about 2 hours to get a decent catch to come back with a catch just enough to cover his fuel and feed his family for a day. Most waters are over fished, reefs and fish stocks destroyed by dynamite and cyanide fishing methods, large amount of tuna fleets with massive nets, long lining and tons of by catch.
By saying LOCALS don't care is not true just listen what they moan about, they just don't know always what the solution could be for their problems as this fish stock problem only the first in peoples lifetime.
No need to re invent the wheel but look up success stories where communities have made it work them selves with some support, maybe look up
RarePlanet | Community Inspiring Conservation and read this article
I was interviewed by The New York Times! | Adventures in Conservation
It's so easy to give up and give in but much more satisfying getting results with and for the community you are in.