Saving Fish Habitat

ELAW Partnership in Belize

Bonefish, permit, and tarpon thrive in the lagoons, estuaries, inlets, and mouths of many rivers in Belize.  This is prime fly fishing territory.  Unfortunately, shortsighted developers don’t seem to care about fish habitat or the health of the marine environment.

Fortunately, people who live in Belize are organizing to protect fish and fish habitat.  Fishing guides, small hotel operators, and citizens are coming together to challenge environmental abuses and work toward a sustainable model of development that protects Belize’s unique marine habitats.

The Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development (ACCSD) in San Pedro and the Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development (PCSD) in Placencia are young organizations that want to chart a sustainable future for Belize.  They have joined with ELAW to form the Grand Slam Alliance, to ensure that lessons learned protecting fish habitat in Belize are shared around the world through the ELAW network.

Critical habitat has been destroyed and more abusive projects are being planned:

• The proposed South Beach mega-resort on Ambergris Caye would destroy roughly 500 acres of mangroves near Hol Chan Marine Reserve – essential habitat for the many bonefish that live and breed in the area.
• In southern Belize, a proposed development on Big and Little Channel Cayes in the Southwater Marine Reserve, a World Heritage Site, would destroy mangrove, coral and seagrass beds.
• Prime tarpon habitat has already been destroyed by dredging and construction on Rendezvous Caye off the Placencia Peninsula.

The Grand Slam Alliance is working to:

• Stop the destruction of flats, mangroves, corals, and seagrass beds that are critical for fish;
• Help craft master plans for coastal and island development that will protect valuable habitat;
• Strengthen and enforce laws and regulations aimed at protecting sportfish and their habitat;
• Educate communities about the importance of protecting habitat that is critical to the long-term survival of healthy fish populations; and
• Help communities speak out to protect fish and critical habitat.

Learn more about the Grand Slam Alliance: www.grandslamalliance.org