Hol Chan Marine Reserve

As of Tuesday, October 1st, the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) season officially opened in Belize. As one of the country's main seafood staples and a leading export marine product, the opening of the conch season is a significant event for the local economy. Fishers in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, welcomed the anticipated season. They headed out early and returned later in the day with plenty of conchs in their first catch of the season. The queen conch season will remain open until June 30, 2025, or until the seasonal production quota is met.

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.

The Belize Port Authority (BPA) hosted a week-long summer camp for the youth of Ambergris Caye from August 5th to August 9th. The camp took place at San Pedro Lions Den and attracted 28 children. The program aimed to involve the campers in enriching maritime experiences and provide them with insight into the BPA's daily activities.

San Pedro’s Omar Arceo, popularly known as the “Dr. of the Flats,” was busy during this summer break, traveling the country and teaching the youth about sustainable fishing. He joined the campaign in the northern part of the country and then visited several coastal communities across Belize, where he interacted with young children via the annual Fly-Fishing Summer Camp.

On Wednesday, July 17th, the Sarteneja Alliance For Conservation and Development (SACD) held a meeting at the San Pedro House of Culture to work on a strategic plan to manage the terrestrial part of the Bacalar Chico National Park, a World Heritage Site in northern Ambergris Caye. SACD, a non-governmental organization in Corozal District, was given the co-management of this protected area by the Government of Belize in March 2023.

After a brief delay due to Hurricane Beryl, the annual Guardians of the Reef Summer Camp is now in full swing. The camp, running from Monday, July 8th to July 19th at the Lion's Den from 8:30AM to 11:30AM, is organized by the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) with a clear mission to educate children about protecting and preserving the marine environment. The camp features a rich array of fun and educational activities, outdoor games, and lessons on conservation, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience for the young participants.

The proposed increase in entrance fees at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) from US$10 to US$20 has sparked controversy among tour operators and tour guides. They have voiced their concerns, questioning the HCMR management about the 100% increase and the need for a proper justification. HCMR has responded to these concerns, explaining the process that led to the new proposed entrance fee. It's important to note that the US$20 entrance fee was not a unilateral decision by Hol Chan but a collective one following a meeting with the heads of the associations representing tour operators, tour guides, and sports fishers, ensuring transparency in the decision-making process.

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) has expanded over the years and now includes marine areas within the popular Secret Beach northwest of Ambergris Caye. Regulations restrict water structures in marine reserves. However, at Secret Beach, an agreement was made between HCMR and the stakeholders where they suggested a fee to keep the water structures. This agreement limits the amount of structures in the water and requires the use of environmentally friendly materials for building. A fee of $100 per structure per month was agreed upon. Some businesses have complied with this fee, while others have not. Hol Chan has indicated that this non-compliance is causing issues, as some establishments have fallen behind on payments, resulting in high arrears.