Thursday, March 28, 2024

Environment

Construction of pier in Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve raises concerns among stakeholders on Ambergris Caye

The construction of a pier within the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve in northern Ambergris Caye has raised concerns among concerned residents who maintain that no such structures should be allowed in this sensitive marine area. The responsibility to manage these marine protected areas mainly falls on the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD), which plays a role in approving structures in sensitive marine areas. They know the situation and visited the site at Robles Point over a week ago with the local authorities to issue a Stop Order. Despite the order to halt any further construction, it has reportedly continued. As a result, the Fisheries Department is now looking at other alternatives to address the problem.

Lionfish Tournament removes hundreds of Lionfish from Belizean waters

The Lionfish, an invasive species in Belizean waters, felt the brunt of the ongoing campaign to reduce its presence in Belize. On October 7th, Reef Adventures in San Pedro Town held its annual Lionfish Tournament for the third time, attracting 12 teams. The event awarded the three top teams who caught the most lionfish, with Team Carma again taking the top prize. Team Carma was also the winner of the 2022 Lionfish tournament and defended their title, sealing the big win with a total of 371 lionfish. Team Ramons, with 247 lionfish, was in second place, and Team Chingon brought back 152 of the predatory fish.

ISFMI Australian Delegation Leads Fire Management Workshop in Belize

The Ministry of Economic Development and the Belize Forest Department are hosting the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) on a visit to Belize as part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness project “Traditional Savanna Fire Management Readiness Proposal to facilitate Emissions Reductions in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Sector in Belize.”

SPHS students join Hol Chan Marine Reserve in the National Coastal and Riverways clean-up

A group of students from the San Pedro High School (SPHS) participated along with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in the annual National Coastal and Riverways clean-up, held on Saturday, October 7th. In San Pedro, the clean-up occurred on the island's northern coast, Robles Beach—a popular area for sea turtle nesting.

The future of mangroves on Ambergris Caye; what are authorities doing?

The constant development of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye has recently seen the decimation of large areas of mangroves. Most of these cases take place on private properties, clearing the mangroves for development projects. The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) said they are starting to investigate some of these clearings as a permit is required before altering mangroves. These trees are considered highly important for coastal areas in Belize as they serve not only as a nursing ground for juvenile fish and fight climate change but also as a reliable natural buffer against natural disasters like hurricanes.

CAF, FAO, and CRFM partner on new Regional GEF Funded Blue Economy Project

A new US 48 million dollar project to strengthen the foundation for blue economic growth and sustainable development of marine living resources by focusing on marine spatial planning, area-based management, and climate-smart sustainable seafood value chain development has commenced. The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), are partnering to implement the four-year project in the region.

The United Kingdom’s Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) supported the Government of Belize (GOB) in “Achieving...

The UK’s OCPP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA) and the Belize Fisheries Department (BFiD), hosted the IUCN in Belize for a transformative five-day workshop focused on Green Listing of marine protected areas (MPAs) as part of Belize’s marine conservation ambitions.

Illegal dumping reported at Bacalar Chico National Park

The illegal disposal of garbage at Bacalar Chico National Park north of San Pedro Town appears to continue unabated after concerned residents shared images of a large dump site. The eyesore is said to be near the beach, which is an active sea turtle nesting site. According to concerned residents visiting these areas, this unfortunate behavior occurs almost weekly and goes undetected due to the alleged absence of enforcement at this important national park.