A Health Check on the Status of Belize’s Reef!
The Healthy Reefs Initiative has released the 2021 Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef countries, which include Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. The study evaluates the region’s efforts to protect and sustainably manage coral reefs. Compared to the 2016 audit, the latest report shows Belize’s reef score has surpassed the other three countries. Healthy Reefs for Healthy People created a summary of the findings.
Nicole Craig, Country Coordinator, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People
“Belize’s overall Eco-Audit score slightly increased from sixty-eight percent in 2016 to seventy percent this year. Belize expanded the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve to better manage resources on our side of the amazing Cayman Crown Reef, this increases the percent of territorial sea included in gazetted marine protected areas and demonstrates a collaborative approach to science and conservation. The revised Fisheries Act empowers fishers with specific rights-based benefits countrywide, raising this action from forty to one hundred percent implementation. We now have a total of eight recommendations that have been fully implemented, more than any other country. Belize has some important emerging efforts to engage our private sector directly in conservation, such as the Fish Right Eat Right campaign which should help us achieve more sustainable seafood. But, overall, there is not a high level of private sector engagement or incentives offered by the Government. Belize also urgently needs to improve sewage treatment facilities, given our growing population and this indicator has not improved at all over the last decade.”
Melanie McField
Dr. Melanie McField, Director, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People
“The 2021 Eco Audit is now in, and Belize has again secured the highest score with seventy percent of the recommended management actions now complete; this followed closely by Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala. Since our last eco audit in 2016, the regional score increased from sixty-two to sixty-six percent, with Honduras and Guatemala having the largest gains; twelve of the indicators increased; ten remain the same, and six actually declined. Sewage and sanitation finally had a substantial increase, going from forty-six percent to fifty-six percent, with all three indicators having an increase. Ecosystem-based fisheries from sixty to seventy-two, with parrot fish protections across the MAR and several other increases in the protection of fish spawning aggregations. Marine Protect Areas, though, actually had a decrease, from seventy to sixty-six percent, primarily because we finally adjusted the criteria up to our actual target of twenty percent in full protection.”
