Environment
Sargassum blamed for mass fish death on Ambergris Caye; Marine Environmentalists suggest solutions
An alarming number of fish were observed gasping for air and dying along the Boca del Rio beach north of San Pedro Town on the evening of May 7th. The unexpected incident has been attributed to the continuous influx of Sargassum seaweed, which is not only affecting Ambergris Caye but the entire country and the Caribbean region.
Conservation
Hol Chan Marine Reserve Reef Week 2018 opens with “Swim to the Reef”
Bright and early at 6AM, islanders gathered at Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop dock, dressed in snorkeling gear and ready to swim to the reef and back.
Conservation
Cayo Rosario Developers must comply with Environmental Compliance Plan
Residents of Ambergris Caye are greatly concerned at reports alleging the approval of a tourism development on Cayo Rosario, located off the northern-western coast of Ambergris Caye within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Zone IV: Cayo Rosario Conservation Zone. The Environmental Impact Assessment was given the green light by the Department of Environment (DOE) in December of 2017, while the National Environmental Appraisal Council (NEAC) is yet to weigh in on the first draft of the project’s Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) which comes with specific stipulations demanding changes in the construction design.
Community and Society
Islanders celebrate World Earth Day 2018
To celebrate World Earth Day 2018, a group of islanders participated in beach and sea clean-up on Sunday, April 22nd.
Conservation
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System remains in UNESCO Danger List; Land Development to blame
The World Heritage Committee in its 2017 decision to retain the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) on the Danger List, stressing the urgency of addressing development issues within the BBRRS.
Community and Society
Authorities won’t confirm if Cayo Rosario tourism project has been approved
Cayo Rosario is a 10-acre privately owned island west of Ambergris Caye, packed with mangroves and teeming with wildlife. According to an online publication, the project was approved in the second week of April and calls for 80% of the project to be constructed off the island as over-the-water structures.
Environment
CRFM to convene 16th Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum in Montserrat
Once a year, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), an inter-governmental organization established to promote and facilitate the responsible use of the region's fisheries resources, convenes a meeting of heads of national fisheries authorities from its 17 Member States.
Conservation
Hol Chan announces activities for Reef Week 2018
For the past 12 years, Hol Chan has been celebrating Belize’s Barrier Reef System through a week of activities, aimed at raising awareness on the importance of protecting and preserving the marine environment.