Livelihood Diversification Strategies (LDSs) aim to increase community resilience and simultaneously lessen pressure on natural resources such as fisheries when LDSs are utilised by fishers. Small-scale aquaponics that combine aspects of aquaculture and hydroponics with low-cost materials is a potential LDS for fishing communities. The Tela Bay area in northern Honduras is home to several fishing communities dependent on overfished, decreasing fish stocks that characterise most of the Mesoamerican Reef region, of which it is part. The aim of this study was to analyse the potential of small-scale aquaponics as an LDS in Tela Bay communities. A joint aim is to inform stakeholders and LDS implementers in the entire region in an effort to strengthen community resilience and support fish populations and reef health. Previous LDS implementations in the area were analysed for lessons learned and community focus groups were held and analysed in order to inform optimal LDS design and pilot beneficiary selection. Important conclusions included the determination that small-scale aquaponics could be an accepted, viable LDS option; the identification of a suitable community to serve as an aquaponic LDS model; and the relevance of environmental awareness to both the proposed project and communities.
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