 hosted a post-storm reef response workshop in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, on August 24th.){kind=link}
The Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MarFund) hosted a post-storm reef response workshop in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, on August 24th, which included a site visit to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The one-day session provided participants with a firsthand look at post-storm response and conservation efforts being implemented at the reserve.
Throughout the day, MarFund personnel met with the Reef Response Coordinating Committee for the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Society, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, and Glover’s Reef Response Coordinating Committee also participated. Key activities included reviewing reef response protocols designed to mitigate damage to coral reefs following hurricanes and other major storms.
María José González of MarFund explained that part of the response is supported through an insurance program covering areas along the Mesoamerican Reef. “The insurance program covers the different areas along the Mesoamerican Reef and covers the cost of immediate response after a hurricane,” González said. “The corals are usually damaged, and to restore them, special brigades are funded to kick-start that restoration process.”
González said the brigade working around the Hol Chan Marine Reserve has been trained and certified to carry out restoration activities following a major storm such as a hurricane. She also recognized the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance and the British High Commission in Belize for supporting the initiative, as well as the efforts of Belize’s Ministry of the Blue Economy.
Claudia Ruiz of MarFund said the organization has been working with the Belize Fisheries Department and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to establish reef response brigades. “These are groups of divers and snorkelers that will help in restoring the reef after an event such as a hurricane,” Ruiz said. “The visit was to see how they are working and to learn from the joint work we are doing.”
Ruiz described the workshop as successful and said MarFund and its partners will continue to collaborate on reef conservation and to strengthen post-storm response efforts.
The workshop concluded with a visit to the Hol Chan Visitor Center.