Hol Chan Inaugurates New Marine Station

Today, a Hol Chan Marine Station was officially inaugurated in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It also came with the unveiling of a new logo for the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. A News Five crew was on the island today and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve encompasses a large area, covering approximately eighteen kilometres of coral reefs, mangrove forests, sea-grass beds and more and is used by fisher-folk and tourists alike. With a new Ministry of Blue Economy, there is a sharp focus on the collective responsibility of stakeholders on this reserve. Today marked the commencement of a new era at Hol Chan.

Andre Perez

Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy

“We can take advantage of what our aquatic blue space has to offer in bounty so that we are able to harvest, we are able to enjoy so that it can affect not only food-wise, but touristically and that is all what the reef can offer. But at the same time, under the Blue Economy framework, that we must include the preservation of our environment. So put all of these things together becomes a shining example of what we can do using the maximum use of our blue aquatic space. Hol Chan stands out as the perfect example of the framework of the blue economy.”

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“We stand out because Belizeans truly love our country; we truly love what we have and we are so proud of what we are doing today. As a government we are doing everything possible to be able to continue to maintain these reserves, to expand where it is necessary and to be able to create the necessary funding that is needed. As you all know last year we managed to work with the Nature Conservancy to set up what we call the blue bonds.”

Following today’s ceremony, there was a tour of a newly installed marine station.  With a new outlook, there was also the launch of a new logo for the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Mariela Archer

Mariela Archer, Outreach & Marketing Manager, Hol Chan Marine Reserve

“Since the establishment of Hol Chan Marine Reserve in 1987, the name Hol Chan – Maya meaning for Little Channel – has come to represent conservation, protection and biodiversity. The name is a symbol of the hard work and dedication of the Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker communities, [and] their efforts towards conservation with Belize. The logo uses the name that has come to symbolise the management organization and incorporates one of the many iconic species of the reserve, the southern stingray. The different shades of blue represent the sky and the sea; the waves represent continuous motion symbolising the continuous hard work and dedication of the staff and management to maintain the ecologic integrity of the reserve and support of the community.”

The move to take care of this aquatic blue space and preserving it was not without its challenges.

Ian Pou

Ian Pou, Chairman, Hol Chan Marine Reserve

“This was no easy task as we were left nothing to hold on to but hope; hope that one day we will be able to uplift Hol Chan to where it was before. It was the same hope that kept us afloat with the ambition to keep going. Upon assuming office as chairman in January of 2021 under a new administration, we encountered the alarming financial status in which the organization was left with. To all our amazing stakeholders, believe it or not, you all have played a significant role in the restoration of our organization. We ask for your patience and continued support in our environmental effort. We are not where we want to be, but we are surely heading in the right direction.”

During today’s event, awards were handed out to a number of stakeholders without whose cooperation helps with the success of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  Duane Moody for News Five.