BTIA pushes reef management proposal

The Belize Tourism Industry Association today convened a meeting of a group called Friends of Coastal Zone to discuss a concept paper for the management of the Belize Barrier Reef. It’s a two-fold proposal that would see the financially strapped Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute get full oversight responsibility along with much needed financial support, while at the same time ensure that the World Heritage Site is protected for the benefit of Belizeans and the world. BTIA’s Maria Vega says the consultation will result in a draft proposal which the ministers of Tourism and Fisheries will take to cabinet for approval.

Maria Vega, Consultant, BTIA
?At this time this agency is in need of a lot of help, financial and other wise and B.T.I.A feels that it could help in some way. So we called together a group of other Friends of Coastal Zone that we thought would be interested in actually helping with money, personnel, and new ideas for a way forward.?

Patrick Jones
?What exactly is included in the Concept Paper, and what agreements were reached? What?s the way forward??

Maria Vega
?Let me start with the agreements that there is need for Integrated Coastal Zone Management that it?s necessary for the development of the economy of Belize. It was agreed that Coastal Zone is an agency that has the mandate and has the structure to do this, but right now they are not in top form and we would like to get them to top form. What is BTIA?s interest in putting this proposal forward? Well tourism is our main interest. And the Belize Barrier Reef, which is like the dominant feature and attraction in our coastline, we would like to have it for the use and equitable benefit of all Belizeans. And it is BTIA?s interest to have the reef monitored, managed by a neutral and capable and independent agency like Coastal Zone.?

?We know that there are areas that are already under the protection of Forestry and Fisheries like the Marine Protected Areas. The greater expanse of the reef is not under the type of management yet. We would like to have the rational monitoring of the rest of the Belize Barrier Reef so that we could have it for the benefit of all Belizeans for as long as possible.?

Vega says the full proposal should be ready for presentation to cabinet at its next regular meeting.