Conservation

The Dr. of the Flats, Omar Arceo, conducted his final fly-fishing summer training camp in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The camp took place south of the municipality of Tulum at the Casa and Playa Blanca Fly-Fishing Lodges within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Unlike previous camps where Arceo trained children, this time, the participants were fly-fishing guides working in the Mexican flats fishery industry. They were grateful for the training and the knowledge Arceo shared.

On Wednesday, August 21st, the Belize Fisheries Department led a consultation session in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, on expanding biodiversity protection zones. The area identified on Ambergris Caye is at the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve, located off the island's northern part. Expanding the protected waters at Bacalar Chico will not affect those currently using the area, including tour guides, tour operators, fishermen, and other relevant stakeholders. The exercise is part of the Government of Belize's commitment to the Blue Bonds campaign that calls for expanding biodiversity protection zones to 25% of the country's sea (ocean) by November 2024. Bacalar Chico is a small part of this percentage that must be achieved by the deadline later this year.

From August 12th through the 14th, experts and government representatives from Benin, Burundi, Fiji, Haiti, Grenada, Madagascar, Nepal, South Sudan, Suriname, and Belize convened in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye for a global forum on climate change. The forum aimed to share experiences on strengthening the alignment between National Adaptation Plans (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The NAP Global Network and the Government of Belize co-organized the event. Experts and government representatives from Switzerland and Canada collaborated to identify concrete actions for the issues affecting countries worldwide.

In Ambergris Caye, the sea turtle season begins in April and lasts through November. Sea turtles hatch year-round, but their peak is during the summer. As of July 31st, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) turtle monitoring team has discovered 31 nests, of which 11 had to be excavated, resulting in eight successfully hatched and three spoiled. 416 hatchlings, including 81 green and 271 loggerhead turtles, returned to the sea.

San Pedro’s Omar Arceo, popularly known as the “Dr. of the Flats,” was busy during this summer break, traveling the country and teaching the youth about sustainable fishing. He joined the campaign in the northern part of the country and then visited several coastal communities across Belize, where he interacted with young children via the annual Fly-Fishing Summer Camp.

The 2024 Kids in Action Youth Scuba Summer Camp concluded on Sunday, August 4th, with a field trip to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve off Ambergris Caye and a closing ceremony. The ceremony's highlight was the recognition of 75 students who received certificates for their outstanding performance in diving, fly-fishing, and snorkeling lessons.

The San Pedro Classic Fly-Fishing Tournament took place from August 1st to the 3rd and saw eight teams participate. The three-day competition included fishing and fun and showcased the importance of the fly-fishing industry in Belize. The top team, Team Big Sexy, won the grand prize of US$3,000, with Abner Marin and Zach Kolanda leading the team. Additionally, the tournament raised funds for the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) and Omar Arceo's Youth Fly-Fishing Program.

The co-management plan for the Bacalar Chico National, located in northern Ambergris Caye, was further discussed at a two-day consultation on July 26th and 27th in San Pedro Town. Hosted by the Sarteneja Alliance For Conservation and Development (SACD), the sessions heard feedback from representatives of the business community, fly fishing tour guides, local marine biologists, local conservation agencies, island residents, and the Belize Coast Guard toward the completion of the management strategy. SACD plans to have a permanent presence in the area by mid-August.