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Guidelines for writing a Scientific Research Proposal including: Title, Abstract, Introduction and Literature Review, Research Hypothesis, Materials and Methods, Conclusion and Justification, Bibliography, and Work Plan and Budget
Agreement to adhere to all the conditions captured in the approved Filming Permit issued by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Agreement to adhere to all of the conditions captured in the approved Scientific Research Permit issued by the Belize Fisheries Department.
All researchers with the intent to conduct Scientific Research (SR) in Belize are required to obtain a SR permit from Belize Fisheries Department (BFD)
Details of your proposed filming activity and rationale. Also, state how your proposed activity will advance knowledge and how the results can be of benefit to Belize and the world.
Legislation
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Educational
SCTLD Response must be a multi-prong approach at all levels. There is no clear-cut path to take when addressing SCTLD, each country along with local organizations must work together to find a best fit approach for their specific local, national, and regional context based on human and financial resources and response capacity and expertise.
Managed Access empowers fishers through their active participation in committees that oversee and manage fishing areas.
Managed Access secures fishing grounds by managing access and empowers fishers so as to ensure sustainable fisheries.
Reports
Belize City, Belize - November 2025
Prepared By:
The Baseline Assessment of Belize’s Multispecies Nearshore Finfish Fishery (2017-2025) has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation, and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This assessment report has been reviewed by stakeholders and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Summary:
A multi-indicator baseline assessment integrating both fishery-dependent (2017-2025) and fishery-independent (2006-2023) data was used to characterize the status and patterns of fishing pressure across Belize’s multispecies finfish fishery. The assessment is framed as a baseline assessment, not a comprehensive one, providing a structured starting point for adaptive management. Findings should be interpreted as directional and refined as monitoring expands. Across the indicators assessed, many of Belize’s commercially important finfish targets show signs of significant and persistent pressure, with clear patterns emerging by gear type, species, and fishing community. While the results reflect the best available data, they may not represent the full scope of the national finfish fishery, as data coverage varied by region, gear type, and year. Nonetheless, across most indicators, including total landings, catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), length-based reference points, and fishery-independent abundance trends, there is evidence of growth, with fish being caught before they have had a chance to grow and reproduce, where non‑selective gears overlap with nursery and nearshore habitats. This pattern is especially pronounced in small-bodied and fast-growing species like Bluestriped Grunt, Striped Mojarra, and Yellowfin Mojarra, which are often harvested in large numbers while still immature; these patterns vary spatially across Belize.
Length-based indicators frequently fall below precautionary thresholds (e.g., <30 SPR, > 2 F/M proxy, or < 80% optimally sized fish in the catch). At the same time, community‑ and gear‑specific patterns reveal heterogeneity in risk and opportunity for rebuilding. Beach traps, widely used across northern communities, frequently catch high volumes of small-bodied species, resulting in high F/M ratios (>2), low spawning potential ratios (LBSPR 20-30% and < 20%), and Froese sustainability indicators falling below precautionary thresholds (% mature < 80%, % optimal < 70%) for some of the species caught. Although beach traps are inherently non-selective gears that capture a wide range of species and sizes, many fishers apply selectivity at the point of harvest by releasing undersized individuals; however, length-based indicators suggest that post-capture selectivity does not fully compensate for the gear’s low in-water selectivity. In contrast, spear guns and hand lines, particularly those landed in communities such as Turneffe and Caye Caulker, were more selective, often capturing individuals at or above maturity for species such as Hogfish, Schoolmaster, and Great Barracuda.
CPUE trends, disaggregated by gear, revealed localized surges and sharp declines depending on species and fishing strategy. For example, Dog Snapper and Schoolmaster exhibited declining CPUE in the trap fisheries, while Yellowtail Snapper showed variable patterns depending on whether spear or hand line was used. Gill net catches showed an absolute reduction in catch after the 2020 national ban.
Fishery-independent visual census data (AGGRA) from 2006 to 2023 reinforced these patterns, showing declines in national abundance for high-value species such as Mutton Snapper, Gray Snapper, Black Grouper, and Cubera Snapper. Length-frequency trends in this dataset suggest that while some species (e.g., Yellowfin Grouper, Tiger Grouper) are beginning to show modest recovery in size, many continue to exhibit truncated size distributions.
Total landings (e.g., communities in Belize City, Corozal, Bacalar Chico, Dangriga, Placencia, and Turneffe) have been stable between 2022 and 2024 but have declined since 2021 and remain below long-term averages, particularly for key export species. Taken together, the indicators highlight consistent stock-level stress, particularly in species frequently targeted with non-selective gears in nearshore areas and in fishing communities with high landings, such as Placencia, Corozal, and Belize City.
Fishery‑independent trends corroborate long‑term declines in some reef predators and commercial snappers and groupers in multiple sub‑regions. However, fishery-independent data at species-level resolution is not consistently available across the time series, so these patterns should be interpreted with caution.
This multi-indicator framework establishes a national baseline assessment of the multispecies finfish fishery, underscoring the need for gear-specific management responses that include improved enforcement of minimum size limits, spatial or temporal closures, and promotion of more selective fishing practices in fishing areas. Tailoring these actions by gear, species, and fishing areas use patterns will be critical to rebuilding, sustaining livelihoods, and meeting long-term conservation and fishery management objectives in Belize’s multispecies finfish fishery.
Belize City, Belize - November 2025
Prepared By:
The Baseline Assessment of the Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Fishery of Belize has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation, and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This assessment report has been reviewed by stakeholders and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Summary:
A multi-indicator baseline assessment, integrating fishery-dependent data (1977–2024) and fishery-independent monitoring (2003–2024), was used to characterize the status and fishing pressure across Belize’s Queen Conch fishery. This assessment serves as a baseline rather than a comprehensive evaluation, providing a structured starting point for adaptive management.
Findings should be interpreted as directional, with the expectation that continued monitoring will refine and strengthen detected trends. As with all fisheries assessments, the true stock size and exact population status cannot be known with complete certainty. The assessment, therefore, relies on multiple independent data sources and a suite of performance indicators, each with varying interpretive strengths. Because data availability varies across regions and years, the results represent the best available evidence of current patterns but may not fully capture all aspects of the national fishery.
Across indicators, several consistent patterns emerge, suggesting increasing fishing pressure in recent years. MSY-based proxies indicate that the fishing mortality proxy in 2024 exceeded the reference levels (F/FMSY > 1), while the relative biomass proxy (B/BMSY) was at or slightly below target levels (B2024/BMSY ~ 1). Using pre-season fishery-independent length-frequency data, LBSPR analyses estimated a 2024 spawning potential ratio (SPR) of approximately 17.5%, below the commonly used 30% precautionary benchmark. The same length data show a mean shell length of 144 mm, with roughly 78% of individuals measuring below the 178 mm legal minimum size. However, these LBSPR and size-structure indicators must be interpreted within the constraints of the current survey design. The national conch survey does not sample known deep-water or seasonal spawning aggregation sites, where large, mature adults are concentrated.
As a result, fishery-independent data systematically underrepresent the largest size classes, which can bias LBSPR outputs, particularly SPR and the inferred F/M, toward suggesting greater depletion than may occur at the scale of the full stock. The observed low SPR and small mean size, therefore, reflect a combination of genuine fishing pressure and limitations in spatial survey coverage.
Despite these caveats, the convergence of multiple independent indicators, including surplus production modeling, cohort stability, and long-term production trends, supports the conclusion that the fishery is under increasing pressure. Importantly, these multi-indicator results are not management decisions themselves; instead, they provide evidence-based signals that help managers evaluate risk, identify emerging pressures, and determine where precautionary action may be warranted. These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen management by implementing precautionary harvest control measures and improving the standardization of effort reporting. Expanding fishery-independent monitoring to include spawning aggregation habitats, improving spatial coverage, and integrating multiple data streams will reduce uncertainty and support adaptive, ecosystem-based management of this culturally and economically important fishery.
Prepared By:
Belize City, Belize - November 2025
The Baseline Assessment of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Fishery of Belize has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation, and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This assessment report has been reviewed by stakeholders and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Summary:
A multi-indicator baseline assessment, integrating long-term fishery-dependent data (1977–2024) and more sporadic fishery-independent monitoring (2004–2025), was used to characterize the status and fishing pressure across Belize’s spiny lobster fishery. This work is intended as a baseline rather than a comprehensive stock assessment, providing a structured starting point for adaptive management. Findings should be interpreted as directional, with the expectation that continued monitoring will refine and strengthen detected trends. As with all fisheries assessments, the true stock size and exact population status cannot be known with complete certainty. The assessment therefore relies on combining multiple independent data sources and evaluating a suite of performance indicators, each with differing levels of interpretive strength. Because data availability varies across regions and years, these results represent the best available evidence of current patterns but may not fully capture all aspects of the national fishery.
Using fishery-dependent landings data from cooperatives and fishery-independent monitoring across Belize, multiple indicators of fishery performance were evaluated, including total annual production, national catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), early-season CPUE, average carapace length from landings, fishery-independent size structure, Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR), and MSY-based proxies for F/FMSY and B/BMSY. Total production has remained relatively stable, with only a modest ~5% decline in recent years. The average carapace length of landed lobsters has increased to 86.6 mm (7-oz tail category), up from 85.8 mm (6-oz category), likely reflecting both market preferences and strengthened compliance with U.S. import regulations.
Length-based results were complemented by a Catch-MSY (CMSY) analysis using long-term catch data (1977–2024) and resilience-based priors for Panulirus argus. CMSY does not directly estimate a full surplus production model but instead identifies combinations of productivity (r) and biomass (B) trajectories that are compatible with historical catch patterns. The resulting MSY-based indicators should therefore be interpreted as proxies rather than precise biological quantities. Nonetheless, the CMSY outputs suggest that recent exploitation levels may be elevated, with 2024 estimates indicating F/FMSY > 1.0 and B/BMSY < 1.0, signaling fishing pressure above levels consistent with long-term sustainability and biomass below the model-estimated optimum.
National CPUE has declined over time, largely driven by increasing effort, measured by the number of licensed vessels and fishers, without corresponding increases in catch. Daily cooperative landing records show that early-season CPUE generally exceeds late-season CPUE, with recent early-season values near the 10-year running average. However, uncertainties in effort data, including inconsistent reporting, gear variability, and multi-species targeting, underscore the need for improved data quality and standardized effort.
Given these findings and data limitations, the fishery should continue to be managed precautionarily. Maintaining or enhancing existing harvest controls, such as seasonal closures and minimum legal sizes, will help safeguard stock productivity. Future assessments will be strengthened by investments in data quality control, expanded monitoring of the domestic market, and the implementation of a nationally standardized fishery-independent monitoring program. Enhanced spatial and temporal survey coverage, particularly of size structure, recruitment, and reproductive potential, will support more robust indicators such as SPR and improve confidence in trend validation. Moving forward, integrating multiple independent indicators across both fishery-dependent and independent data sources will remain central to adaptive, science-based management of the lobster fishery.
Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy (Revised Version)
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation (MBECA) and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment is in the process of finalizing a loan operation with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to fund a five-year project entitled “Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Blue Economy” (BL-L1042).
The project aims to improve income generation capacity of artisanal fisherfolks and to maintain export levels of fisheries products considering the sustainable use of oceanic resources within Belize’s blue economy framework. Specific objectives of the project include:
(i) enhancement in the Government’s ability to sustainably manage key species in the fisheries sector and
(ii) supporting the successful implementation of Individual or Group Business Plans for artisanal fisherfolks aimed at promoting the adoption of sustainable technologies and best fishing practices, as well as the diversification of their income.
The Oceans Economy and Trade Strategy project was developed to assist developing countries in realizing the full potential of oceans economy sectors. This report was prepared in consultation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations and the Government of Belize. The overall aim of the report is to assess the marine fisheries sector, particularly for finfish; and seafood processing sectors for queen conch and spiny lobster, so as to facilitate the preparation of an Oceans Economy Trade Strategy for two sectors selected by Belize during a stakeholder workshop held in November 2018. Legal & institutional, and economic studies were conducted prior to the aforementioned stakeholder workshop in November 2018 where results provided additional context for the development of strategies and action plan for Belize in this report.
Belize’s fisheries sector has supported over 2,500 fishers directly and over 15,000 Belizeans indirectly (BFD, 2019). The fisheries and seafood processing sector also support the ever-growing tourism sector in Belize by supplying the restaurant and hotel industry with finfish, spiny lobster, and queen conch in addition to exporting large volumes of these products. In 2018,
Belize exported 1.8 million pounds of seafood product valuing at 18.6 million USD (SIB, 2019). Total production over the ten-year period has yielded steady catch of spiny lobster and queen conch which are now classified as mature fisheries, while the potential for deep sea fishing has long been identified as a potential commercial stock (BFD,2019). Therefore, the economic interests of the fisheries sector must be taken into account as we aim to maximize the benefits of Belize’s ocean bounty while maintaining ecosystem health.
DRAFT Report prepared for UNCTAD and DOALOS
Belize launched a national preparatory process in advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) scheduled for Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, with financial support from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The national preparation process consisted of three phases: the preparation of a national stocktaking report based on sector-specific reports. Information for sector reports and national report was obtained from literature review and interviews. Key documents reviewed included national strategies, action plans and policy documents from all economic sectors of key relevance to sustainable development and the UNCSD. Prepared by Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development, Belize, United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UNDESA), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
In spite of a relatively short coastline, of about 386 km, Belize borders a marine environment of great significance in terms of living resources and biodiversity: off the shores of the country lies one of the largest coral reef barriers or the world. The fisheries sector plays an important role in the Belize national economy... Capture fisheries production in coastal waters mainly concentrates on two valuable resources: lobster and queen conch. Prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Plans
Belize City, Belize - November 2025
Prepared By:
The Belize Multispecies Finfish Fishery Management Plan has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This fishery management has been revised and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Introduction:
The Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) is the world’s second-largest barrier reef system, spanning 700 miles from the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula to the Bay Islands of Honduras. Within the MAR lies the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest barrier reef in the northern and western hemispheres, located along Belize's coast. The Belize Barrier Reef and the broader MAR system are highly biodiverse and home to many species that are both important sources of food and essential to two major economic sectors in the region: fisheries and tourism (McField and Kramer, 2005; Garcia-Salgado et al., 2008; Muhling et al., 2013). The MAR and the people whose livelihoods depend on it have benefitted from decades of governmental, institutional, and private philanthropic investment in establishing nearly 50 marine protected areas (MPAs) (Healthy Reefs, 2020).
As is the case in many if not most other geographic contexts, however, MPAs alone cannot sufficiently protect the MAR ecosystem, due to their limited spatial scale and the pervasiveness of certain fishing activities. While 7.61% of Belize’s territorial sea and an additional 6.28% of Belize’s EEZ are under no-take status (due to the recent expansion of Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve) (Belize Fisheries Department statistics, 2021), there is a risk of overfishing in unprotected areas in the absence of a well-implemented, well-enforced, science-based fishery management plan. In addition, some degree of illegal fishing undoubtedly occurs within MPA boundaries (Cox et al., 2017). Apart from global climate impacts that threaten all reefs (ICRI, 2013; IPCC, 2014), overfishing is considered the largest anthropogenic threat to reef biodiversity, environmental conservation, and the provision of ecosystem services critical to food security, productivity, and income generation in the region.
High-value lobster and conch fisheries in the region are often prioritized for management. But a significantly greater contribution to coral reef health could be made through the effective management of mixed-species finfish fisheries within the MAR system, because most significant ecological cascades in reef systems that result in reef degradation are closely related to the depletion of finfishes (Hughes, 1994; Mumby et al., 2006, 2007; Hughes et al., 2007; Edwards et al., 2013; Ruppert et al., 2013). However, a main barrier to the effective management of finfish in the region – one that has yet to be reliably overcome – is the sheer number of species for which management must account. Even the most up-to-date data-limited stock assessment approaches are unlikely to be maintainable, species-by-species, in such a complex and species-rich setting.
Approximately one third of the MAR falls within Belize’s territorial sea and management; actions taken in Belize will continue to play an important role in determining its future state (Healthy Reefs, 2015). Belize maintains a network of MPAs and Managed Access Areas (MAAs; areas in which access and fishing activity are closely monitored and controlled), employs a relatively extensive data collection program, and administers a framework for the assignment of secure fishing rights within MAAs.
Implementation Plan:
The multispecies finfish fishery in Belize is an essential component of national food security, coastal livelihoods, and the Blue Economy. This management plan presents a structured and adaptive approach focused on species classification, regulatory updates, licensing reforms, catch reporting, capacity building, data collection, financing, and risk mitigation. The proposed implementation plan is a recommendation; the Fisheries Department will review the timeline and proposed activities, and then the Fisheries Department will support stakeholder outreach to finalize the development of an implementation plan.
Belize City, Belize - November 22, 2025
Prepared By:
The Belize Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Fishery Management Plan has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation, and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This fishery management plan has been revised and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Introduction:
Fisheries accounted for 0.5% of Belize’s GDP in 2023, with the dominant fisheries being Caribbean spiny lobster and Queen conch (Government of Belize, 2025). According to the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Belize produced 647,134.84 pounds of live spiny lobster in the 2023-24 season. Of this amount, 589,425.51 pounds comprised lobster tails, and 149,543.01 pounds of whole lobster. The total earnings from all lobster fishing (including spiny lobster) in the 2023-2024 season were $36 million BZD (BFD, 2025).
The spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery is Belize's most significant small-scale artisanal fishery, accounting for 67% of the country's capture fishery export earnings. The lobster fishery is regulated through harvest control measures, including closed seasons, size restrictions, gear prohibitions, and no-take areas. Free diving using hook sticks and wooden traps are the most common gear for harvesting lobster (>90% of extraction). Other gear
includes “shades” (artificial shelters that attract lobsters), drums, tires, and casitas. The commercial lobster fishery began in the mid-to-late 1950s. Catches increased rapidly; in the past decade, the catch has stabilized at around 750,000lbs/400 tons per year of processed lobster. Most of the catch is exported, mainly to the United States.
Implementation Plan:
The Belize Spiny Lobster fishery plays a vital role in national food security, coastal livelihoods, and the Blue Economy. To ensure its long-term sustainability, this management plan outlines a structured and adaptive implementation approach centered on Total Allowable Catch (TAC), effort controls (licenses and traps), and updated biological regulations, including size limits. The proposed implementation plan is a recommendation; the Fisheries Department and partners will review the timeline and proposed activities, then support stakeholder outreach to finalize the implementation plan.
Belize City, Belize - November 22, 2025
Prepared By:
The Belize Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) Fishery Management Plan has been prepared by Kendra Karr of Pincoya Solutions, at the request of the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation, and WWF-US, in support of the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. This fishery management plan has been revised and endorsed by the Belize Fisheries Department.
Introduction:
The Queen Conch is commonly referred to as Strombus gigas or Lobatus gigas and more recently as Aliger gigas — all are taxonomically interchangeable. CITES continues to list Strombus gigas in its official listings and trade documentation; therefore, this fishery management plan will also use Strombus gigas. The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) fishery is the second most important commercial fishery of Belize. The fishery is seasonal, operating from October 1 through June 30 of the following year, but it will close earlier once the national conch quota is reached. The fishery is artisanal in nature; the main fishing grounds are along the Belize Barrier Reef Complex and at the three atolls (Turneffe Atoll, Glovers Reef Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef Atoll).
The Queen Conch is a critical fishery resource, supporting livelihoods, promoting food security, and contributing significantly to Belize’s economy. In 2024, 3,701 licensed fisherfolk and their immediate families were employed across all fisheries in Belize, totaling about 17,000 Belizeans.
The conch is harvested by free diving along coral reefs and seagrass meadows at depths ranging from 5 to 60 ft. The fishing fleet consists of 8-12-meter wooden sailboats equipped with sails and outboard engines (15-40 Hp) that carry 6-10 fisherfolk on fishing trips lasting 6 to 12 days. Each sailboat carries 8-10 wooden canoes, which are used by individual fisherfolk to search and harvest conchs. The fishing fleet also includes 6 – 8.5 meters skiffs (made of fiberglass or wooden) equipped with outboard engines (25-60 Hp) and a crew of 3 fisherfolk; and fishing trips last 1 to 2 days.
Conch meat landings have increased gradually over the past 27 years, from 251,352 lbs in 1986 to 942,293.7 lbs (427.42 MT) in the 2023-2024 season (Figure 1). In 2023, approximately 904,900 pounds of conch meat were exported, generating an estimated USD $6.6 million in revenue (BZD $13.20 million). Management regulations for conch include minimum size (shell length of >178 mm, market clean fillet of >3 oz, unprocessed conch >7.5 oz, fully-processed fillet >2.75oz), a closed fishing season (July 1st – September 30th), annual quota, and prohibition of use of SCUBA for commercial fishing.
Implementation Plan:
The Queen Conch fishery is a critical part of Belize’s Blue Economy, providing food security, livelihoods, and export income, particularly through trade to international markets However, ongoing concerns regarding depletion level, latent fishing pressure, and international trade restrictions necessitate a precautionary, adaptive, and socially equitable management approach. The proposed implementation plan is a recommendation; the Fisheries Department will review the timeline and proposed activities, then support stakeholder outreach to finalize the implementation plan.
A plan to ensure the long-term survival of ecologically relevant populations of D. mawii in Belize through a combination of legislative action, strategic law enforcement, community participation, protection of key habitats, population monitoring and augmentation, and essential natural history research.
The National Fisheries Enforcement and Conservation Monitoring Strategy and
Action Plan (NFECMSAP) provides a roadmap to transform Belize’s national approach
to fisheries enforcement and conservation monitoring into a coordinated, sustainable, and
resilient system that secures Belize’s marine and coastal resources while supporting the
communities and industries that depend on it.
The WWF GEF BGI “Resilient Bold Belize (RBB)” project is a significant public-private partnership
driven by the Blue Bond Project Finance for Permanence Unit (BBPFPU) within the Prime Minister’s
Office. The GEF Resilient Bold Belize child project focuses on Belize’s Blue Ocean space and is
designed to catalyze a Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) to generate sustainable financing for
improved protected area and ecosystem management, creating the scaffolding for more resilient
fisheries and nature-based tourism in Belize.
The RBB project operates within a robust legal framework comprising national and international
regulations. Additionally, the project will comply with WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards
Framework, ensuring that all activities are conducted ethically and sustainably.
The GEF Resilient Bold Belize child project focuses on Belize’s Blue Ocean space and is designed to
catalyze a Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) to generate sustainable financing for improved protected
area and ecosystem management, creating the scaffolding for more resilient fisheries and nature-based
tourism in Belize.
Stakeholder engagement is pivotal to the success of the RBB project, ensuring that all relevant parties are
involved in the project’s planning, implementation, and evaluation processes. The RBB project involves
comprehensive stakeholder engagement, including national government entities, local communities,
NGOs, and private sector donors.
This document details a proposal for a national adaptive multispecies finfish management plan for Belize. The plan’s development and implementation are initiatives of the Belize Fisheries Department, in compliance with the provisions of the Fisheries Resources Act of 20201 and in accordance with the National Fisheries Policy, Strategy & Action Plan (NFPSAP) of Belize and the OETS.
The proposed plan was developed with support from UNCTAD, DOALOS and EDF, and with input and expertise from dozens of stakeholders and international experts who participated in discussions and workshops.
Healthy finfish populations are important to the food security and livelihoods of thousands of Belizeans. Through an adaptive and integrated multispecies management approach, the proposed finfish management plan aims to ensure healthy ecosystems and sustainable use of fishery resources, even as climate change imposes unprecedented impacts. The management plan is based on three prioritized ecological and socioeconomic objectives:
1. sustainability and resilience of food security
2. sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods
3. abundant finfish populations to support healthy ecosystems
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first seen in Florida in 2014 and since, other locations in the Caribbean have identified similar signs of the disease on their reefs. As of August 1, 2019, the disease has been confirmed in the Caribbean countries and territories of Jamaica, Mexico, Sint Maarten, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), the Turks and Caicos Islands and Belize. The disease is characterized by its high mortality rate. Affected coral colonies present lesions that rapidly expand outward and can ultimately kill all live tissue.
The disease affects over 20 coral species of hard corals (Table 1) and is contagious between individual corals and among coral species. Highly susceptible species, such as the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) are often the first to show signs of the disease, with the species of intermediate and low susceptibility showing signs thereafter. It is water-borne and can also spread through contact. Research to determine the pathogen(s) involved is ongoing and although one is yet to be determined, applications of the antibiotic amoxicillin have curbed disease progression in both laboratory and field experiments. Identification of SCTLD is based on a multi-factor field diagnosis based on the characteristics such as species affected, the order in which species are affected, and
prevalence of affected colonies within a given area.
Coral reefs sustain fisheries and tourism, the backbone of Belize´s economy and livelihoods. Coral reefs also provide coastal protection from the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes, by reducing exposure to strong waves, flooding and erosion. However, in turn, hurricanes inflict considerable damage to the reef reducing coral cover and structural complexity. Dislodgement and displacement of massive boulder colonies, broken tips and edges to total fragmentation of branched corals and sometimes structural fractures, are some of the effects of cyclone impact to the reef. Without intervention, affected organisms can be moved continuously by the current, become overturned or buried by sediment, leading to severe tissue loss and abrasion and preventing their reattachment and recovery. Addressing impacts quickly and effectively is critical to reduce the risk of subsequent damage to affected corals and for increasing the likelihood that reefs will continue to provide valuable services to local communities in the future.
Therefore, Belize Government through the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, hereby creates the Post-Storm Emergency Response Committee to address the effects caused by hurricanes in coral reefs.
Fisheries Department with the support of The Mesoamerican Reef Fund and The Nature Conservancy
January 2020
Annual Reports
MAF Chief Executive Officer, Gabino Canto, prepared a report describing the vision, mission, programmes, and priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The ministry's vision is for a transformed and modern sector that is fully competitive, diversified, and sustainable. He said the mission of the Ministry is to continue as the economic pillar of Belize and to ensure food security, develop risk management, generate income and foreign exchange, create employment, and conserve natural
resources. He pointed out that projects were implemented in 2009 to increase.