The 11th annual Northern Belize Reef Week kicked off on Monday, May 16th with an early 6AM swim to the reef. The full week features a variety of events, ranging from Lionfish Tournaments to clean -up campaigns to Kayak Races, all in an effort to create awareness of our marine ecosystem.
In the opening event, around 15 swimmers took on the challenge and swam to the reef and back. According to The San Pedro Town Council’s Sports Coordinator Kent ‘Bob’ Gabourel, the race was not about competing, but to raise awareness on the need to protect the reef system. Participants swam at their own pace, and many of them even wore their snorkelling gear in order to make it an enjoyable swim.
Gabourel would like to thank everyone who participated. “I would like to see more people getting involved in these types of activities. We should always remember that the Reef is what made San Pedro what it is today. We all depend on the reef in one way or another. We need to get more involved in order to create awareness and protect it,” he said.
At the end of the race, all swimmers were acknowledged for their participation and encouraged to continue taking part in the events of the reef week. Organizers are emphasizing the continued preservation of the reef, as it contributes to the livelihood of island residents. The different activities throughout the week were constant reminders to seek ways to better conserve our reef system.
Organizers thank everyone who participated. The service of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Amigos del Mar staff are truly appreciated.
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