The award was bestowed by the Marine Conservation Institute (MCI), an organization in charge of identifying and preserving the vulnerable ocean ecosystems globally, and that area received it for the highest scientific levels of protection and management of marine life.

In addition, due to the effectiveness in the protection of critical habitats, to promote resilience to climate change and safeguard the marine environment.

According to Jose L. Gerhartz-Muro, a conservation specialist at the Secretariat of the Caribbean Biological Corridor, Jardines de la Reina is one of the best examples of a large, effectively managed marine protected area in the Caribbean islands.

Declared a National Park in 2010 and protected since 1996, the group of keys covers 2,000 square kilometers, and it is located on the southern coast between Ciego de Avila and Camagüey, 80 kilometers from the coast.

The abundance of mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs, considered among the healthiest in the Caribbean Sea, was another reason for winning the Blue Park award.

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