Conservation

San Pedro Town is the most populated and developed area of Ambergris Caye. Over the years, it has rapidly expanded to accommodate progress and the growing population. As it grows, the challenge of balancing progress and conservation remains a concern for the local authorities. To address this, studies have been conducted in partnership with international organizations such as IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture SAU, and the Inter-American Development Bank to develop a master plan that will include protected areas. While the project is being finalized, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has launched an aggressive project to protect the downtown beaches by implementing a nature-based approach.

On Tuesday, September 17th, the Belize Department of Environment (DOE) organized a training session from 9AM to 12:30PM in Ambergris Caye. The session, hosted by environmental officer Mr. Kendrick Gordon, was to educate council members, traffic managers, and head traffic wardens about a new ticketing initiative. This initiative involves issuing litter tickets to individuals improperly disposing of waste or contributing to environmental pollution, starting with random inspections on the island. Those failing to adhere to the regulations will be subject to ticketing and fines based on the severity of the offense.

On Monday, September 23rd, scientists from Florida International University (FIU), USA, revealed a newly identified species of hammerhead shark named “Sphyrna alleni," in honor of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, a strong supporter of shark conservation. Anglers fishing in Belize’s Robinson Point and Riversdale Village caught several hammerhead sharks between 2016 and 2019, passing them on to scientists. After years of analysis, researchers have now confirmed the discovery of a new species.

The Government of Belize (GOB) has recently acquired ownership of Angelfish Caye, also known as Will Bauer Flats, located off the coast of Placencia in South Belize. This acquisition is part of an effort to promote marine environmental conservation and support the expansion of the Belize Barrier Reef as a national park and protected area, all to ensure sustainable use. The previous owners of Angel Fish LLC will be compensated for the acquisition and have been asked to submit their compensation claims to the Chief Land Acquisition Officer at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining in Belmopan, Belize.

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.