Environment

To show solidarity with fly fishers across the country and to continue sending a strong message against developments threatening their livelihoods, a group of fly-fishing guides held a peaceful protest in front of Cayo Rosario on Wednesday, May 15th. Cayo Rosario is a small island within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Zone IV off the west coast of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The surrounding area is home to some of the best fly-fishing areas in the country, but a proposed tourist resort on the small island is of concern to many as it could disrupt their fishing grounds. Fly fishers on Ambergris Caye depend on this sports fishing activity involving the three protected species of bonefish, permit, and tarpon.

Access to proper water and wastewater services is crucial to the residents of Ambergris Caye. The administration in charge, led by Mayor Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nuñez, is committed to expanding and improving these services in the northern part of the island in collaboration with various partners, including Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL), the Ministry of Economic Development (DOE), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, the Belize Department of Environment, the Belize Forest Department, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National Hydrological Service, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Belize.

San Pedro Town has activated a response to tackle the current influx of the brown seaweed known as sargassum, with the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) leading the campaign. On May 3rd, they offered more job posts to keep the beaches sargassum-free and are also partnering with the private sector to jointly remove much of the seaweed from the shoreline. All tourism stakeholders are encouraged to share their response efforts as the seasonal natural phenomenon affects the coasts beyond the downtown area.

On Monday, May 6th, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) team received a report from Chris Summers via their official Facebook page. Summers is a collaborator with whom they have established a working relationship through Aces Wildlife Rescue. Mr. Summers shared a video of a fresh sea turtle crawl observed on the beach side of the property owned by Clear Water Belize. The HCMR team promptly responded to this notification and confirmed the presence of a nest upon investigation, marking the inauguration of Ambergris Caye Sea Turtle Season 2024.

On April 22nd and 23rd, the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit, Office of the Prime Minister, hosted a two-day mission with the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD) to meet with on the ground partners in Southern Belize who are grantees from the conservation funding under the Belize Blue Bonds. On April 22nd, the team met up with the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, who has been instrumental in providing important scientific information for the sustainable use and conservation of sharks in Belize.

A family of committed fishermen from Sarteneja Village and its surrounding areas in the northern Corozal District uses the waters around Middle Long Caye sustainably. They are the Lopez family, led by Ismael Lopez Sr. and Jr., Rodrigo Lopez, and Nestor Lopez. The family has been fishing in the region for over four decades now. Despite their excellent practices, Ismael, one of the head fishers, shared that pirates, the effects of climate change, and the possibility of expanding marine protected areas without proper consultations often threaten their fishing camp.

At the 42nd Board Meeting of the Adaptation Fund, BZ$8 million was approved for Belize to implement a project entitled; “Enhancing the Resilience of Belize’s Coastal Communities to Climate Change Impacts." This project is slated for implementation through the Protected Areas Conservation Trust.

The Department of the Environment (DOE), the University of Belize (UB), and several stakeholders have been working with the UK Government’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to continue to support Belize’s work to address marine pollution challenges. Over the last 3 years, the partnership has collaborated to develop preventative measures and actions, invested in new scientific skills and equipment, supported the use of innovative technology, and provided opportunities to secure the healthy and productive future of Belize’s ocean and waterways.