Marine conservation efforts in Roatan just got a boost from an unexpected dive buddy: Salt Life, a corporation with a name that's recognizable from the stickers you see plastered on the vehicles of those who live a waterman's or woman's lifestyle.

Today, the Salt Life brand is more than a sticker, and the company has announced a partnership with the Roatan Marine Park (RMP), located in the Caribbean off the coast of Honduras. The partnership will encompass ongoing efforts in raising awareness and aid in the care and preservation of the reef and marine ecological system on and around the Island of Roatan.

Salt Life will provide needed resources to RMP from content generation, apparel for staff, social media outreach and various other contributions. Salt Life President Jeff Stillwell, an avid diver and conservationist, says, “Without preservation, education and conservation, our mission is moot. Living the Salt Life is a way of life and with our relationship with RMP, we are able to provide funding and awareness to one of the world’s largest reefs. We are looking forward to building this relationship and working closely with the team on the Island of Roatan. We are also excited to bring our Salt Life team members to the area to film the ongoing efforts of this beautiful and important area of the world."

Giacomo Palavicini, Executive Director of Roatan Marine Park, adds, “We are honored and thrilled to have Salt Life partner with us. We are a rapidly developing island and face a number of challenges daily. Our focus on engaging diverse community stakeholders to aid in developing solutions that can ensure long-term, sustainable management of our natural resources is paramount in achieving our mission.”

The Roatan Marine Park (RMP) started in 2005 as a grassroots, community based, nonprofit organization and is now internationally recognized with 501c3 status in the USA.

The RMP is also one of 13 co-managers of the National Marine Park of the Bay Islands. The aim is to work together with local NGO’s to protect natural resources for the future.

The RMP’s focus is on developing solutions that ensure long term, sustainable management of natural resources. The RMP recognizes that long term resource sustainability can only be achieved through improved education, community empowerment and participation.

The scope of work the organization undertakes to preserve and protect the area ranges from marine infrastructure, patrolling, education and community development plus extensive involvement in many other environmental efforts.

The focus of these programs is to protect the reef by reducing overfishing, endangered species trade, pollution and other harmful risks by providing sustainable options, alternative livelihoods and raising awareness. This is all achieved by education and empowerment of the local communities and tourists alike.

About Salt Life

The Salt Life brand was created in 2003 by four men who weren’t just friends — they were also avid watermen from Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Drawn by their shared passion for ocean-centric activities, they embarked on a journey to develop a brand that wasn’t just a logo … they wanted it to represent a style of life.

The Salt Life brand strives to effortlessly combine function and fashion with an incredible fit tailored for the active lifestyle. With its relentless dedication to provide gear and designs that transcend, it has successfully evolved into a lifestyle brand with worldwide appeal.

Whether it’s surfing, fishing, diving or simply enjoying a day at the beach, those who live and breathe the Salt Life have one thing in common ... the ocean and all it has to offer!

About the Roatan Marine Park

The Roatan Marine Park (RMP) is a grass roots, community-based, nonprofit organization located on the island of Roatan, 50 kilometers off the mainland coast of Honduras.

The organization was formed in January 2005 when a group of concerned dive operators and local businesses united in an effort to protect Roatan’s fragile coral reefs. Initially, it was our goal to run a patrol program within the Sandy Bay-West End Marine Reserve (SBWEMR), to prevent over exploitation through unsustainable fishing practices. Over time, we expanded the scope of our environmental efforts through the addition of other programs encompassing the entire island.

At present, the RMP, together with the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), co-manages the Reserve, which is a nationally recognised marine protected area located along the northwest coast of Roatan. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed with the ICF (National Institute of Conservation and Forestry Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife) to allow the RMP to be a co-manager of the Reserve. The ICF is the governmental institution responsible for the administration of all Honduran protected areas.

The RMP runs a broad range of activities to protect Roatan’s natural resources, including patrols and infrastructure, education, conservation and public awareness. RMP attends government enforced environmental damage inspections and provides environmental impact assessments (EIAs) on sites of proposed developments on the island. It has also assisted in establishing the first-ever plastic bottle recycling program on the island, introduced a “Bags for Life” campaign (which promotes the use of re-usable shopping bags), and has been instrumental in setting up community empowerment initiatives through supporting the creation of the Water Taxis Association and the Fisherman’s Alliance.

With a rapidly developing island, the number of challenges RMP faces increases every day. RMP is focused on engaging diverse community stakeholders to aid in developing solutions that can ensure long-term, sustainable management of Roatan's natural resources.