Environment

On Thursday, June 22nd, Oceana Belize visited the office of the Governor General Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam, to deliver signed petitions from registered Belizean voters to trigger a referendum on offshore oil drilling in Belize waters. Oceana said the number of petitions delivered exceeds the legally required 10% of the electorate. The non-profit organization believes that Belizeans should be consulted and decide if the current offshore oil and natural gas moratorium passed as law in December 2017 should ever be lifted.

Stakeholders from the tourism and fishing sectors attended a community outreach held on Wednesday, June 14th, at the San Pedro Lions Den to discuss the Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). This initiative under the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP) was hosted by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), who have been spearheading community meetings across the country and inviting the community to participate in the process that aims to bolster biodiversity protection in Belize's seas.

Two Belize City fishermen have been slapped with almost $100,000 in fines for catching out-of-season lobster, queen conch, and angelfish, a protected species in Belize. The fishermen, identified as 40-year-old captain Randolph Aragon and 30-year-old Vidal Orellano, were also penalized for fishing without a valid fisherfolk license. The pair pled guilty and were arraigned on Wednesday, June 7th, at the Belize City Magistrate Court. For their cooperation, the court allowed them to split the hefty penalty.

The Sargassum situation continues to affect Caribbean nations like Belize, which harms tourism. Stakeholders in places like San Pedro, Ambergris have joined the municipality in hiring labor to clean the beaches, but it has not been enough. The manual work even adds to the beach erosion, and it is hard to keep up with the daily influx. To get ahead of the game, Las Terrazas Resort north of San Pedro Town has acquired a special beach rake that can remove the rotting seaweed while leaving the sand behind.

The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and with support from the British High Commission through the UK’s Climate Diplomacy Fund, hosted Belize’s National Dialogue on the Outcomes of the COP27 and Outlook for COP28 on May 18th, 2023 at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza.

The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) administration is tackling the issue of illegal dumping and warning those involved that they will be penalized for their actions. According to SPTC, inspections are being carried out regularly, and anyone found illegally dumping garbage will face hefty fines and possible criminal charges. Public assistance is also requested in reporting any littering offenses by calling 226-2198 or visiting the SPTC on Barrier Reef Drive with evidence if possible.

The northern beaches of Ambergris Caye received love from many volunteers on Sunday, April 23rd, when they freed the area of tons of garbage left behind by visitors or washed ashore. The beach clean-up commemorating Earth Day saw the efforts of persons from the San Pedro Town Council, the local Child Advisory Body, the University of Belize (UB) Environmental Club, representatives of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and the office of the Area Representative the Honourable Andre Perez.

Following the co-management agreement signed between the Government of Belize and conservation organizations in March of 2023, the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) will oversee the management of the terrestrial portion of the Bacalar Chico National Park in northern Ambergris Caye. While some island residents have reported no management activities within the area, the SACD explained they are working on a strategic plan to look after Bacalar Chico with the involvement of island organizations and stakeholders. SACD is a non-governmental organization (NGO) promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Located in Sarteneja, a traditional fishing village in the northern Corozal District, it also co-manages the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary alongside the Belize Forestry Department.