Update May – August 2022(2005-2022)
Photo: Lynton Burger / The Ocean Agency
Photo: Rick Miskiv / The Ocean Agency
Grantee: EcoLogic Development Fund (EcoLogic), Guatemala
Final results:
- Sarstún Creek, Lo de En Medio II and Playa Sarstún women’s committee implemented the Nixtamal mill as an enterprise.
- San Juan’s fishermen established a credit community bank. Seven members of the credit commission were elected and trained on the credit authorization process.
- Ten volunteer promoters from Sarstún Creek, Playa Sarstún and Lo de En Medio II were trained on agroforestry and milpa systems, focusing on best practices. They were equipped to empower them as leaders and guarantee their safety.
- Six ha of degraded forest have been restored through agroforestal systems, clean agriculture and soil restoration, aiming to ensure mangroves and marine ecosystems conservation.
Grantee: EcoLogic Development Fund (ECOLOGIC), Guatemala
Objective: Conserve and restore 254 ha of tropical forest and mangrove ecosystem in communities of the Sarstún River watershed, promoting sustainable strategies with the environment, contributing to the resilience of the ecosystems of the Mesoamerican Reef System, through community governance mechanisms.
Photo: Elisa Areano
The MAR Fish project is the largest coordinated monitoring network of fish spawning aggregation (FSA) sites in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region. The overall objective is to promote the recovery of fisheries by strengthening the protection of the FSAs as critical areas in the life cycle of the species, through a better knowledge and understanding of the aggregations in the region.
Belize:
- Patrolling at Cayman Crown and the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR) continued by TIDE and the Belize Fisheries Department (BFD), from December 2021 to May 2022. Twenty-one patrols were conducted using the SMART tool, one fishing gear was confiscated.
- Two multispecies aggregation sites were confirmed in the Cayman Crown reef, and one outside. Characterization data between February 2020 to May 2022 was analyzed.
- Fish spawning aggregation (FSA) characterization was conducted in four sites by TIDE in Cayman Crown during May, 2022. Tiger Grouper and Ocean Triggerfish displayed spawning behavior, and Atlantic Spade, Bar Jack, Horse Eye Jack, Schoolmaster and Southern Sennet, were most abundant.
- The 2021-2026 management plan for the SCMR was approved in May 2022, by the BFD.
Guatemala:
- FUNDAECO followed up on the amendment presented for the Reform to the Law of the Punta de Manabique Wildlife Refuge (PMWR) participating in seven meetings from May to July, 2022; with members of the Guatemalan Congress and Ministries of Defense and Agriculture, the interinstitutional roundtable and with the fishing sector.
- Four patrols were conducted from June to July, 2022, covering the Amatique Bay area; no fishing gears were confiscated.
- A letter of understanding between CONAP and FUNDAECO was signed on August 30, 2022, to formalize a strategic alliance to coordinate and implement actions for the management of protected areas in the Guatemalan Caribbean.
- Alianza de Derecho Ambiental y Agua (ADA2), in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Forum of Izabal, carried out a national training to strengthen compliance with national environmental regulations, and a regional meeting for an exchange of experiences in the application of legislation in the MAR. The event took place on August 18 and 19, 2022, in Izabal, Guatemala, and gathered 39 participants among judges, prosecutors, attorneys and technical staff of the CONAP, all from the North-Eastern Guatemalan offices (Alta Verapaz, Petén and Izabal) and from the other four countries in the MAR.
- Participants shared how the judicial system works in their countries and their experiences issuing resolutions on environmental crime processes.
- Recommendations were provided by the international guests especially on developing specialized criteria for environmental cases and creating strategic alliances between the State, public and private institutions and academia for the public policies in the protection of the environment.
- One hydrophone and four temperature loggers were installed in Gladden Spit during April, 2022.
- Acoustic data from hydrophone is being collected to be analyzed for sound frequencies from Snappers and other fish species that use the site possibly for spawning.
- Hydrophones and temperature loggers were installed in three FSA sites, smart buoys were also installed in two of them.
- Monitoring was carried out in four sites during March, 2022. Results indicate presence of spawning behavior or color changes in some of the sites.
Grantee: MarAlliance, Belize and Honduras
Final results:
- Results indicate that most snappers and groupers spawn in the fall (August-November) while the Silk Snappers actively spawn in the spring and summer (March-July). Spawning period was not predictable by lunar phase for most species.
- In total, nine deep baited remote underwater video (BRUV) installments were deployed in, to assess species composition and behavior. Results were mostly comparable with fishery-independent surveys, it is a good tool for sampling fish and observing rare behavior of commercially important species.
Grantee: MarAlliance, Belize and Honduras
Objective:
- Identify sites where spawning aggregations of deep-water fishes occurs, along with the timing of these events using standardized methods. Age validation will determine the age-structure of the spawning populations, and genetic analysis will determine how gene flow and larval transport affect distribution.
Grantee:Fundación para el Ecodesarrollo y la Conservación (FUNDAECO), Guatemala
Objective:
- To consolidate a participatory national and regional habitat and biodiversity conservation strategy that ensures the sustainability of fisheries, the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, and the governance of Cayman Crown.
Photo: Elisa Areano
In June, insurance coverage was placed for seven pilot sites in the MAR, for the period June 2022-May 2023, thanks to the financial contribution of the InsuResilience Fund (ISF).
In July, the informational session on Reef Resilience and Risk Financing in the MAR region was held in Belize city, with a total of 23 participants. Representatives included the Blue Economy Ministry, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) World Conservation Society (WCS), Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA), Hol Chan, the Fisheries Department, among others.
MAR Fund and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in collaboration with the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), funded by UK government through the Ocean and Risk Resilience Alliance (ORRAA), through the project Reef Resilience and Risk Financing in the Greater Caribbean, worked together to scale up the MAR insurance programme in the three pilot sites of the Greater Caribbean. The project was finalized in August.
In July, with funds from ISF, an exchange of experiences between response groups took place in Roatan, Honduras. A total of 15 participants, including brigades from the Bay Islands and Cayos Cochinos, and the Response Committees from both sites exchanged learning on how to address response and coordinate the early warning and immediate attention to the reefs.
In August, with funds from the AFCIA/UNDP/ISGAP, a brigade training was conducted in Tela, Honduras. Nineteen people in total received in-the-water training, including 10 people for the Tela Bay site, two people for the Cayos Cochinos site, and seven people from Guanaja, La Ceiba, and Roatan reef sites and Trujillo, attended the course.
In August, the Executive Committee (EC) of the MAR-RRN held its first ordinary meeting in Guatemala city. The EC agreed to create different tools that will be available in the MAR-RRN website to help restoration projects with the permits process and an interactive tool to encourage networking between the different reef restoration projects across the MAR. The EC also approved the requirements for the MAR-RRN membership for potential members and strategic partners; these criteria will be available at the MAR-RRN website.
Grantee: Centro Ukana I Akumal A.C. (CEA), Mexico
Objective:
Restore the reef ecosystem and the ecosystem services it provides, through restoration techniques and monitoring, with the collaboration of the local community to ensure the sustainability of the project.
Grantee: Fundación Comunitaria Cozumel I.A.P. (FCC), Mexico
Objective:
Repopulate in a year, four reefs with coral species at risk to fully promote the rehabilitation of ecosystem services for the benefit of the Cozumel community, involving the active participation of key stakeholders in raising awareness and mitigation of impacts to the reef.
Grantee: Asociación para la Conservación Ecológica de las Islas de la Bahía / Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), Chapter Guanaja, Honduras
Objective:
Generate capacities on coral restoration to improve the health of the reef ecosystem of the island of Guanaja.
Fragments of Opportunity: Rebuilding reefs and fostering resilient communities through coral restoration.
Grantee: Roatan Marine Park (RMP)
Final results:
- Four Roatan dive centers signed agreements with RMP to participate in the coral restoration program.
- One poster prepared and placed in the Educational Restoration Center as educational material to inform about the coral restoration process.
- Four Webinars/workshops developed with restoration experts, achieving the participation of 93 people.
- Two RMP staff trained in coral restoration techniques
Conservation, restoration and monitoring of the mangrove ecosystem with community leadership in the río Sarstún Multiple Use Area, Guatemala.
Grantee: ECOLOGIC, Guatemala
Final results:
- Three files were submitted to the National Institute of Forests (INAB, in Spanish) to register them in the Forest Incentives Initiative, an initiative that promotes conservation of forests by providing monetary support to communities who protect them.
- Restoration of 7.09 hectares of mangrove forest was supported in the communities Barra Sarstun (2.09 ha) and San Juan (5 ha).
- Thirty-eight technical visits were carried out to monitor the reforestation of energetic forests, mangrove restoration, agroforestry systems and to monitor the usage and maintenance of the wood-saving stoves.
- A total of 248 people (147 women and 101 men) were trained through 16 workshops focusing on: mangrove ecosystems and their importance, mangrove conservation, reforestation, forest nurseries, causes of mangrove deterioration and usage, management and maintenance of wood-saving stoves.
- A visual arts expert was hired to develop two murals, one in each community, with the help of young members to showcase mangroves and the main fauna species.
Grantee: Oceanus, S. A., Mexico
Final results:
- From March 2021 to March 2022, new colonies have been outplanted for a total of 11,507 corals between the sites of Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Morelos, Mayakobá, Punta Maroma, Tulum, Mahahual and Xcalak, surpassing the goal of 10,000 new colonies.
- Oceanus performed an initial and final monitoring to measure the survival percentage of the colonies. The survival of the outplanted colonies was higher than 90% from the 100% of colonies sampled.
- Oceanus established a collaboration with the Coralium Laboratory of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) to develope an exchange on the UNAM sexual reproduction project and have them participate with outplanting of sexual recruits at the Oceanus restoration sites.
Photo: Lynton Burger / The Ocean Agency
The Belize Marine Fund (BMF) supports projects through two programmatic windows 1) the Targeted Grants Program and 2) the Small Grants Program. The projects supported by these programs have been guided by those priority areas of focus established in the BMF’s Strategic Plan and in consultation with the BMF Steering Committee.
General Objective:
Setting the BTIA on a path that not only restores its role as the voice of the tourism industry, but helps to re-imagine Belizean tourism in the wake of a once-in-a century global event.
On May 26, 2022 the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) hosted its Reimagining Belizean Tourism Summit at the Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza. The one-day event, executed in partnership with MAR Fund and the University of Belize, saw the participation of 127 individuals including the Keynote speaker Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace and the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Mr. Anthony Mahla. Topics highlighted during the Summit included: 1) Preparing for Climate Change: Is Beach tourism an Endangered Species? 2) Belize City Cruise Ports: How Many are Too Many? 3) Branding Belizean Tourism for Resilience; 4) Airport and Land Borders: Short- and Long-Term Solutions; and 5) Looking Ahead: What is the Goal and How Do We Get There?
General Objective:
Supporting the establishment and implementation of Belize’s Blue Economy through the development of a National Blue Economy Strategy and Plan.
TASA collaboratively with the Ministry of Blue Economy hosted a validation workshop for the draft Blue Economy Policy and Strategy at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City. Approximately, 40 individuals attended the session where the Strategy was socialized. Recommendations coming out of the session were incorporated into the document and the final draft of which was sent to the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. The Government of Belize has since officially endorsed and adopted the document as the official Blue Economy Development Policy and Strategy for Belize. It is expected that there will be an official release of the document in the near future.
General Objective:
Expanding Belize’s protected areas network and improving its management and compliance by increasing support for the finalization of the replenishment zone expansion efforts in Belize.
From June – August 2022 WCS collected catch data from Dangriga and Hopkins fishers at community landing sites and fishing grounds. WCS utilized a collection strategy, which attempted to maximize inclusion of deep-sea catch through a multi-faceted approach which included collecting the contact information for deep-sea fishers from these communities for intel on planned fishing trips, as well as, their anticipated return. In some instances, citizen data collectors were dispatched to meet these fishers at community landing sites, while in others small teams of WCS researchers coordinated opportunistic data collection on fishing grounds or traveled to Dangriga and Hopkins to meet fishers upon their return to their communities. A detailed report of WCS’ findings will be provided in its forthcoming end of grant report.
General Objective: Assessing the current impact of agrochemical pollution in marine species and sediments in the Belize section of the MAR ecoregion.
On September 28, 2022 WWF hosted a session with key NGO partners, Government agencies and private sector representatives to share the preliminary findings of its bioaccumulation studies. Of the 78 pesticides tested, only eight were detected, with most of the pesticides detected being slightly over the maximum load threshold. Samples of conch, fish liver and muscles in Sapodilla Cayes and Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserves showed the presence of Daminozide (a plant growth regulator). Samples and data analysis from New River detected the presence of one pesticide (Metalaxyl), while for sediments taken from the mouth of the Monkey River, no pesticides were detected. A full report of WWF’s findings supported by the Summit Foundation, for assessing nutrient loads at the Belize and Hondo Rivers is forthcoming.
General Objective:
Assessing the current impact of agrochemical pollution in marine species and sediments in the Belize section of the MAR ecoregion.
SCTLD control treatment using CoreRx and amoxicillin were directly applied to a total of 957 coral colonies across 32 sites during the life of this project. This included colonies of Pseudodiploria strigosa, the most frequently affected species representing 34.7% of all colonies treated; and Montastraea cavernosa, which is considered an intermediately susceptible species, and the second most affected one in Belize, representing 15.4% of colonies treated. In its findings, HRI notes that the first treatment successfully halted lesions in 42 colonies representing 9 species. Whilst the second treatment successfully halted lesions in 15 colonies. Treatment was considered successful in 71% percent of colonies, with lesions halted after the second application of CoreRx and amoxicillin. While treatment was deemed unsuccessful in 29% of colonies where lesions continued to spread after the second treatment. Based on these results, the Belize National Coral Reef Management Network (NCRMN) now recommends one (1) treatment application per site visit to maximize treated reef area nationally.
General Objective:
To strengthen BAS’ existing relationship with the stakeholder communities of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, through the expansion of its environmental education & community outreach programs; for improved stewardship and conservation of marine resources.
BAS conducted one virtual meeting and hosted two field trips with its Reef Protectors. The first was a trip to Calabash Caye from May 10 – 12, 2022 to expose Reef Protectors to protected areas management, and how MPA management works. The second field trip was to Half Moon Caye National Monument from June 21 – 23, 2022, where participants worked as research assistants with BAS’ team conducting monitoring of key species including sea turtles, lobster and conch. BAS completed the open water dive training with seven Reef Protectors.
General Objective:
To implement research, education, and conservation actions on behalf of the endangered Antillean manatee to garner protection for the species and its critical habitats.
From June 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022 monthly water quality monitoring was conducted at three project sites. Cumulatively, CMARI has 12 months of samples (192 samples) collected across six sites at Southern Lagoon and five sites each at Belize River mouth and Placencia Lagoon. Parameters monitored include conductivity, salinity and temperature. Data collected have shown fluctuations in salinity over the months June to August 2022 in Placencia Lagoon; while Southern Lagoon had a steady decrease in salinity; and salinity in the Belize River remained steady over the three-month period. In the case of conductivity there were fluctuations in Southern and Placencia Lagoons, while the conductivity remained steady in the Belize River. Temperature remained steady in the Placencia Lagoon, while there were fluctuations in the Belize River and Southern Lagoon.
General Objective:
To gather scientific data and inform management strategies that contribute towards safeguarding Belize’s Antillean manatee population.
EDF continues to engage partners around the Small-Scale Fisheries Hub (SSF Hub), optimizing the Hub’s value for Belizean and Caribbean-based organizations and communities by introducing them to the platform, its features and how it could support their priorities, and soliciting their ideas for resources they would like to see included. Since the launch of the Hub in February 2021 and September 2022, EDF indicates that there have been 13,575 visits to the platform from the Caribbean region. Belize had the third most visits (1,312 visits, 9.7% of total visits from the Caribbean). The most visits were from Mexico (7,169 visits, 52.8%) and the fewest visits from Anguilla (1 visit, .01%).
General Objective:
To strengthen the resilience of fishing communities so as to minimize shocks compounded by depleting fish stocks and COVID-19.
SEA conducted training with women from its stakeholder communities of Hopkins, Placencia and Independence. The first training focused on Fisheries Product Diversification was hosted in the Village of Hopkins on August 12, 2022, and saw the participation of women from Independence Village (4), Placencia Village (4) and Hopkins Village (5). The second training focused on Entrepreneurship and was held in Placencia Village at the Community Center on 19th August, 2022. This training saw the participation of representatives from Hopkins Village (6), Independence Village (7) and Placencia Village (3). Both training sessions were executed by consultant Mrs. Elizabeth Avila Muschamp.
IMPROVING MANAGEMENT OF FISH SPAWNING AGGREGATION ZONE IN GLADDEN SPIT AND SILK CAYES MARINE RESERVE
General Objective:
Maintaining connectivity across Belize’s fish spawning aggregation (FSA) sites by supporting monitoring and surveillance at one multi-species FSA site, the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR).
SEA conducted two sessions of catch landing data collection. The first one was executed from May 19–23, 2022 for the GSSCMR FSA site. During this session the SEA team engaged 18 fishing vessels at Buttonwood Caye. A total of 286 Yellowtail Snappers, 36 Bar Jack, 1 Barracuda, 10 Red Hind, 2 Rainbow Runner, 1 Yellowfin Grouper, 2 Dog Snapper, and 152 Mutton Snappers were counted and recorded. The second session was executed from July 15–18, 2022 and a total of 266 Mutton Snappers, 83 Bar Jacks, 17 Yellowtail Snappers, 1 Dog Snapper, 3 Red Hinds, and 1 Barracuda were counted. According to SEA, the biometrics of the Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis), Dog Snapper (Lutjanus jocu), and Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) were recorded, all other species were only counted.
Increasing Financial Sustainability and Generating Income Diversification Opportunities for the Improved Management Effectiveness of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
General Objective:
Creating a financially stable and resilient Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD), that is able to support the enhanced management effectiveness of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) through a sustainable, tourism-based alternative livelihoods initiative in the fishing community of Sarteneja.
Consolidating the Revenue Generation and Commercial Offer under the Blended Finance Approach for the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve
General Objective:
Improving the financial positioning of TASA, increasing the level of available unrestricting resources by promoting the sustainable use and conservation of the marine ecosystems at the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR) while consolidating the commercial offer to the tourism stakeholders and decreasing its dependence on donor funds.
Strengthening surveillance and enforcement in Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize.
General Objective:
TIDE seeks to advance the overall management effectiveness of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR) through the use of technological solutions that improve enforcement. Advancing the organization’s long-term goal for “the sustainable management of coastal ecosystem functions and natural resource values for the benefit of present and future generations of Southern Belize, within the wider ridge to reef landscape.”
South Water Caye Marine Reserve Community Stewardship, Mangrove Awareness and Nursery Pilot Project.
General Objective:
Improving engagement of South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR) stakeholders, increasing their knowledge of and appreciation for the importance of mangrove ecosystems, and their willingness to steward mangrove habitats—while enhancing their capacity for mangrove restoration and monitoring.
Building Capacity for Effective Lionfish Management in Belize’s Fish Replenishment Zones.
General Objective:
Applying lessons learned for successful lionfish control with Wabafu Fisher Association in South Water Caye Marine Reserve, building on the approach developed and piloted with, at Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR).
Strengthening Monitoring and Protections for Fish Spawning Aggregations at Turneffe Atoll, Belize.
General Objective:
Assisting fishery managers and fishers in Belize to prioritize monitoring and conservation of spawning aggregation sites (SPAGs) as a key component of climate-resilient fisheries management. Ensuring the health and productivity of Belize’s marine ecosystems and SPAGs, for supporting thriving, climate-resilient finfish fisheries and fishing communities.
Photo: Elisa Areano
Grantee: Asociación Multicultural De Mujeres Para El Desarrollo Integral y Sostenible (AMMUDIS), Guatemala
Final results:
- AMMUDIS together with CONAP and the municipality cleaned three illegal dumpsters, collecting more than three tons of garbage which is now being characterized.
- AMMUDIS also organized, together with the “Mesa Manglar” Committee, the Recycling Fair held in September 2022 where the Women’s Committee trained by the project to prepare crafts with recycled products, participated.
- During the fair, the Women’s committee, Torno de la Virgen indigenous community pickled chili were sold reusing glass containers for their small business. Here is a link to the activity: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?extid=NS-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&ref=watch_permalink&v=614078873713053
Grantee:
Centinelas del Agua A.C. (CDA), Mexico
Objective:
Carry out an economic valuation of the hydrological services of the Holbox fracture and the Yalahau Lagoon in the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protected Area to make visible the economic and socio-environmental benefits that they generate for local-regional development and use it as a tool for integrated water management.
Grantee:
Polo’s Water Association (POLOs), Honduras
Objective:
By 2023, mechanisms will have been established to reduce pollutants to the marine environment through construction of infrastructures that generate efficient wastewater treatment processes, public awareness involved in decision-making in communities and change in the perception of new generations.
Photo: Lynton Burger / The Ocean Agency
The work carried out in 2022 has been possible through the support of donors and partners. We appreciate their trust and continued help.
Photo: Elisa Areano
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