What’s the Status of Illegal Fishing in Southern Waters?

Wil Maheia

From illegal cross border activities to illegal fishing – is it still happening in our waters during the pandemic?  As Leader of the Belize Territorial Volunteers, Wil Maheia says that the Belize Coast Guard has been doing a splendid job and there seems to be a reduction in illegal fishing in the usual spots. But Maheia says that the illegal fishers haven’t completely gone away; they seem to find areas they can penetrate that the coast guard may not always be. Maheia says about two weeks ago they made a visit out there and found evidence of illegal fishing in the Sapodilla Caye range.

Wil Maheia, Leader, Belize Territorial Volunteers

“I have to give kudos to the Belize Coast Guard. I think they are active on the forward operating base and the minute somebody come across the Coast Guard intercepts them. Now, there is a problem all the way out to the Sapodilla Cayes because there is a huge distance between Sarstoon and the Sapodilla Cayes. So, it is hard – you know there is someone who slips by here and there. There is some illegal fishing. We saw evidence of some freshly killed conch in the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve but for the resources the coast guard has, they are doing a good job.”