Founding member of the Belize Audubon Society Alice Margaret Craig passed away this morning. Craig, who is also the sister of the late George Cadle Price, played a critical role in the evolution of B.A.S. She was the Vice President of the Board of Directors from 1970 to 1987. She was also a member of […]
OCEANA Belize is encouraging individuals, companies and other stakeholders to offer opinions and data relating to the socio-economic and environmental impacts of gillnets. Several groups are calling for the ban of gillnets, but traditional fishermen say that if the gear is banned, their livelihood will disappear. As the debate on the pros and cons of […]
Over the weekend, the local media participated in a one-day training workshop entitled “Fish School.” Organized and funded by OCEANA Belize, the training was facilitated by Margot Stiles, Marine Scientist and Chief of Strategy at OCEANA. Journalists from different news agencies including News Five received information about Belize’s marine ecosystem and the many challenges it […]
As you heard just now – that accident injured an elderly woman and her great-grandson. The intersection of King Street and Amara Avenue is one of the busiest in the city. At certain times of the day, the traffic, both vehicular and by foot, is considerably heavy because it’s near the bus terminal, the Michael […]
The barriers along mile two on the Philip Goldson Highway in Belize City sparked a heated debate after pedestrians are constantly hopping over the barriers to get across. Earlier in the month, twenty-three-year-old teacher Marlena Mortis lost her life after she was hit by a car while hopping the barriers. Her death added fuel to […]
Since 2008, we’ve been reporting about the Lionfish. And if you’re wondering why ten years later we are still talking about – well, that is because this fish is impossible to eradicate. You will recall in the last five years there have been sustained campaigns to raise awareness and promote the culling of this venomous […]
On Monday, a police patrol near mile thirty-two on the George Price Highway intercepted a vehicle transporting eight live hicatees. The turtles were confiscated and released back into the wild. The seven persons inside the vehicle were all served with a summons of intended prosecution for the offences of fishing of female hicatee turtles greater […]
Cacao farmers in Trio Village are living the negative effects of illegal cattle ranching and farming due to the lack of action by the Lands Department. Ya’axche Conservation Trust, which co-manages the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve in Toledo, has been expressing concerns to the Lands Department which holds authority over more than three thousand […]
It has been three years since the Ya’axche Conservation Trust has been attempting to get the attention of the Lands Department to address the serious issues plaguing the Trio Farmers Cacao Growers Association. According to its executive director, the illegal activities near the reserve have been threatening their livelihood. Christina Garcia says that they have […]
Today the National Climate Change Office held a workshop in Belmopan to look at Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Assessment with their stakeholders. The objective is to help the country conduct a national assessment of the impact of different technologies and practices that affect gas emissions. Stakeholder partners included representatives from the energy, forestry, transport, agriculture and […]
Gillnets provide many benefits for fishermen, making them an appealing fishing gear. On the other hand, there are also drawbacks to their use. Gillnets pose a threat to the environment and economy. The sport fishing industry of Belize is estimated to contribute over one hundred and ten million Belize dollars to the economy. The placement […]
There’s a new exhibition at the Museum of Belize in Belize City. This one is not your usual painting, carvings and antique pieces; it is a show on birds in Belize. The birds, which have been preserved to look almost real life, are being showcased to share the birding offerings and highlight the importance of […]
The debate to ban or allow the continued use of gillnets in Belize’s water continues tonight. The government is collecting information from the public as it relates to the effects of gillnets. The Placencia Sport Fishing Association is weighing in on the matter. Members of the association met with the media on the peninsula today […]
The fourth annual Cocktail for the Manatee takes place this Saturday night at the Old Belize Pavilion on the George Price Highway. The fundraising event is used to not only spread awareness on the issues affecting manatees, but also to generate much needed funds to carry out awareness campaigns and conservation activities for the mammal. […]
The government has begun accepting submissions from the public relating to the use of gillnets in Belize’s waters. As we have been reporting, environmentalist groups have called on the government to implement a ban on gillnets in phases. They say that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. On the other hand, some fishermen have been very […]
The fisheries department is looking into a proposed multimillion-dollar tourism project within a delimited area. As we reported on Monday, Margaritaville, a mega investment by the Jimmy Buffett group, has announced that the resort is smack within the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve on the north end of Ambergris Caye. The proposal has raised eyebrows even […]
The Department of Environment is in talks with Travellers Liquors Limited to address concerns raised by residents in Belmopan of air pollution. The affected residents live in the Cohune Walk area, near the northwestern corner of the City. They say that they have been negatively impacted by the emission of malodor for the past several […]
There is no denying that our climate is changing. The primary reason is because humans have increased the burning of oil, coal and gas to produce energy for our homes, businesses, industries and other needs. As a result of burning these fuels, we have producing high levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane […]
A four-day national training in coastal zone and sea level rise opened today in Belize City. The workshop aims to improve Belize’s technical capacity and preparedness in climate change. The sessions are being facilitated by a technical expert from Cuba and are being implemented through a project of the National Climate Change Office. Twenty technical […]
On Thursday, TASA responded to what it describes as ‘mischievous allegations’ made by the Belize Federation of Fishers. The B.F.F. is alleging that the current composition of the TASA Board is illegal and been operating illegally since 2016 in contravention of the required legal procedures. But according to TASA, the B.F.F.’s intentions are to destroy […]
The Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, and Sustainable Development is now accepting submissions from the public relating to the use of gillnets in Belize. The conservation society has called for a ban on the use of gillnets, noting that there are more disadvantages than benefits. According to the Ministry, the purpose of conducting this […]
Fisheries Administrator Beverly Wade also commented on the status of the Nassau grouper. Earlier in the week, the Wildlife Conservation Society highlighted a report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature which lists the Nassau grouper as critically endangered. According to the WCS, enforcement on regulations is needed in order to address the problem. […]
As for the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Bill, Wade says that it will be tabled in the House of Representatives in the next couple of months. The bill contains stiffer penalties against violation of fisheries regulations. Beverly Wade, Fisheries Administrator “I know that there is a process for a bill to go to […]
The National Fishermen Cooperative and the Nature Conservancy, along with support from the government, today presented the Tally, an electronic seafood traceability system. Stakeholders of the industry believe that through the Tally System, Belize can build resilience to threats caused by climate change and illegal fishing and promote food security in our region. News Five’s […]
The topic of gillnets is one that we have covered extensively on the news. As you know, the fishing gear has sharply divided sectors of the fishing industry and conservation groups. Gillnets are described as indiscriminate and destructive because it traps just about every species in its path. The Ministry of Fisheries has gone as […]
