Monday, November 4, 2024

New Board of Trustees appointed for Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Share

27 Hol Chan Marine ReservePress Release – Hol Chan Marine Reserve – July 4, 2016 – A new Board of Trustees for the Hol Chan Marine Reserve was appointed by the Honorable Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development. In making the appointments, Minister Vega asked that the new Board focuses on continuing to build on the accomplishments of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to make it a first class reserve by ensuring that rules of the reserves are adhered to along with continued monitoring of its marine flora and fauna.
Minister Vega has tasked the new Board to also focus on marine education for both local and international visitors by initiating with private and public sectors, plans for an improved visitor center which will include an aquarium focused on the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a World Heritage Site since 1996.
Minister Vega says that education of our marine environment is the best possible way to protect our valuable heritage, thus the reason for this initiative. Hol Chan Marine Reserve was established in 1987 and includes Shark Ray Alley as well as three particular areas included in the 2015 expansion, Mexico Rocks snorkel and dive site area, the mangrove wetland area including the Mata and Frances Lagoon and the shoals that include Los Bajos and Los Salones.
The reserve is not only an important marine site for biodiversity and important ecosystems, but is also an important area for the communities of San Pedro and Caye Caulker that depend on the reserve to support their livelihoods and way of life.27 Hol Chan Board of Trustees
The first meeting of the new Board was held on July 1, 2016 where the initiative to house an aquarium through an expansion of the visitor center to facilitate marine education and conservation was discussed.
The members of the Board are:Mr. Kevin Gonzalez, representative from Belize Tourism Board (Chairman), Mrs. Arlene Maheia-Young, Director-Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (Vice Chair), Ms. Beverly Wade, Fisheries Administrator- Fisheries Department, Mr. Daniel Guerrero, Mayor of San Pedro Town, Mr. Miguel Alamilla, Manager of Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Mr. Billy Leslie, representative from the San Pedro Tour Guide Association, Mr. Harry Longsworth, representative from the private sector in San Pedro and Mr. Charles Worthington, representative from the fishing sector in San Pedro.
For more information, contact: Manager, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Caribeña Street, San Pedro Town, Belize, Tel: (501) 226-2247

Read more

 

Please help support Local Journalism in Belize

For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.

Local News