Who We Are

About Guardianas del Estuario and how it began

About Us

Guardianas del Estuario is a community and scientific project working in the estuarine ecosystems of Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Its objective is to highlight and strengthen women’s participation in fishing activities, especially in the economic processes that take place in the estuary. The project integrates scientific knowledge with local wisdom, promoting the conservation of the estuarine ecosystem from a social, participatory, and gender-focused perspective.

Mission

To recognize, make visible, and strengthen the role of women fishers in small-scale fisheries and estuarine economies by generating knowledge, building community capacity, and articulating science with communities and youth.

Vision

Our vision is a future where women from coastal communities are recognized as vital leaders in fisheries, conservation, and ecosystem decision-making, ensuring the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of their territories.

Origin Story

Guardianas del Estuario was founded by Jabel Gómez as a university research project during her aquaculture degree at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. After establishing direct collaboration with the women fishers of Sipacate Naranjo, Jabel quickly realized the initiative could become far more than an academic endeavor.

The project was created as a response to the historical invisibilization of women’s work in fisheries, evolving into an initiative that unites scientific research, intergenerational estuarine knowledge, all while strengthening the active involvement of women fishers across all processes.

The launch and development of the project were made possible by The Iris Prize, which awarded The Seed Prize 2024, enabling field activities, team consolidation, and the establishment of national and international partnerships.

Our Leadership Team

Jabel Gómez

Founder

Jabel Gómez, an aquaculture graduate from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, is the founder of Guardianas del Estuario. She established the project with the vision of integrating scientific knowledge with the lived realities of coastal communities, working closely alongside groups of fisherwomen. Her driving mission is to visibly recognize and elevate the essential role women play in the economic and conservation-related activities within estuarine ecosystems.

Mónica Alvarado

Investigadora / Researcher

Mónica specializes in water quality analysis and the identification of microalgae from estuarine samples. Her work provides key scientific information for understanding the dynamics of the ecosystem and directly supports the project’s conservation and research efforts.

Alejandra Gutiérrez

Photography and editing

Ale is a graphic designer specialized in documentary photography, a passion that allows her to capture stories with an authentic and human perspective. Her creative vision is complemented by a diploma in project management, which provides a strategic and professional approach.

Gabriela Pérez

Community leader

Gabriela Pérez, the Community leader for El Paredón who frequently collaborates with other NGOs, supports Guardianas del Estuario by leveraging her strong convening power and close community ties to organize workshops, facilitate the participation of women in project activities, and provide a dedicated space for meetings in El Paredón.

Beverly García

Fisherwoman – Community Monitor

Beverly is responsible for collecting data on catch volumes of the species Mytella strigata in the mangroves of Sipacate Naranjo. She has carried out monthly monitoring and sample collection over a six-month period. Her work has been vital in helping us understand the species’ behavior across different months of the year.

Nancy

Fisherwoman – Community Monitor

Nancy is a respected fisherwoman who shares her long-term knowledge of estuarine resource dynamics. Her experience and collected stories are vital to our understanding of how the ecosystem has changed over the years. She is responsible for leading and planning the project’s monitoring routes.

Marina

Fisherwoman – Community Monitor

As the youngest member of the group of women fishers, Marina offers a unique perspective. Having accompanied her parents in fishing activities since a young age, she has personally witnessed changes in local species caused by harmful human activities. Marina actively collaborates in field activities, sharing her accumulated knowledge and contributing to the design of the project’s monitoring routes.

Our Values

Gender equity
Science-based decision-making
Community integration
Knowledge exchange
Accessible and applied science
Collaborative work through partnerships