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The open oceanic waters of the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize are a migratory pathway for whales. With recent advances in Whale Watching in the Caribbean, the importance of the Belize Exclusive Economic Zone to migrating whales, and participation in the Marine Mammal Workshop in 2011, ECOMAR launched the Whale Watch program in 2012 to document migratory whales throughout Belize.
 A Marine Mammal Watching Workshop for the Wider Caribbean Region was held in Panama from Oct 19-22, 2011.   Nidia Chacon represented ECOMAR & Belize.  The valuable lessons learned are presented here in order to share the information with other NGOs and tour operators in Belize. 
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Representatives from the Wider Caribbean attended the workshop which aimed to establish "best practices" that would guide whale and other marine mammal watching. 

Overarching Guideline
Overarching principles of these guidelines might include:
  • Ensure the conservation of cetaceans and their habitats in the Wider Caribbean Region;
  • Ensure a precautionary approach to the development and management of marine mammal watching in the Region;
  • Minimize the impact of marine mammal watching activities on cetacean populations in the Region;
  • Provide long-term benefits for the livelihood of local communities; Promote local knowledge and understanding of marine mammals and the marine environment through training, education and dedicated research.
"THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES AND BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR MARINE MAMMAL WATCHING IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION"
The program was organized and funded by a host of organizations including:
  • United Nations Environment Programme-Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP-CEP)
  • Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean Region (SPAW) Regional Activity Center 
  • National Environmental Authority of the Government of the Republic of Panama (ANAM)
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • U.S. Marine Mammal Commission
  • French Marine Protected Area Agency
  • Humane Society International
  • International Fund for Animal Welfare
  • World Society for the Protection of Animals
  • Pacific Whale Foundation
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ST GEORGE'S CAYE
Mailing Address: PO Box 1234, Belize City, Belize
TEL: + (501) 223-3022  Cel: + (501) 673-3022  Caye: + (501) 614-3483
Email:
info@ecomarbelize.org
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Copyright © 2020
  • Welcome
    • About >
      • Site Map
      • COMMUNITIES
      • Partners
      • Blog
    • References >
      • Classroom Tools
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Research Station
    • Research Trips
    • St George's Caye
    • Marine Research >
      • Conch
      • Dolphins
      • Fish
      • Manatees >
        • Manatees Research
        • Manatee ID >
          • Delfina
      • Sea Turtles >
        • Gallow's Point >
          • Turtles Gallows Pt
          • Rhody Hope Majil
          • Hope 4 Nature
        • Robinson Point
        • Hope 4 Freya
    • Archaeology Project >
      • SGCAP 2014
      • SGCAP 2015
      • SGCAP 2016
  • Turtle Watch
    • Sea Turtle Census >
      • Nesting Beach Observations
      • In-Water Observations >
        • Photo ID
        • Turtle Recaptures
      • Stranded Sea Turtles >
        • Stranded Turtles 2010-2012
      • Illegal Take
    • Sea Turtle 101 >
      • Legislation
      • Classification
      • Anatomy
      • Life History
      • Species
      • Threats
      • Historical Importance
    • Nesting Beaches
    • Satellite Telemetry >
      • Tracking NOW
      • Historical Tracks >
        • Belize BSTCN >
          • Gallow's Point ECOMAR
          • Gales Point GPWS
          • Hol Chan
          • Lighthouse BAS
          • Lighthouse MAR Alliance
          • Glovers ECOMAR
          • Glovers WCS
          • Port Honduras TIDE
        • Barbados UWI
        • Cayman Islands DOE
        • Costa Rica STC
        • Jamaica NOAA
        • Mexico NOAA
        • Mexico UNAM
      • Education Resources
    • Outreach Materials >
      • Turtle Watch Newsletters
    • Operation Green Turtle
    • Turtle Network >
      • In-Water Surveys
      • Sea Turtle Rehab
      • BSTCN Members
  • Coral Watch
    • Coral Bleaching 101 >
      • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coral
      • Remote Sensing
    • Coral Watch Publications
    • Coral Network >
      • Coral Members
  • Lionfish
    • Lionfish Served Here!
    • History in Belize >
      • GCFI Fisherman Exchange
      • COMPACT Lionfish Project
    • Lionfish Publications
    • Caribbean Strategies >
      • Culling Protocol >
        • Bermuda Lionfish
  • Oceans 365
    • Oceans 365 Reports
  • Ocean Watch
    • Manatee Deaths >
      • 2017 Manatee Deaths
      • Archives Manatees
      • Manatee Facts
    • Climate Change
    • Oil Exploration
    • Ciguatera
    • Haulover Creek
    • Wildlife Interactions
  • Marine Mammals
    • Sightings >
      • False Killer Whale
      • Humpback Whale Sightings
      • Killer Whales
    • Whale Stamps
    • Marine Mammal Workshop >
      • Management Considerations
      • Interaction Guidelines >
        • Vessels & Approaches
        • Swimming With
    • Marine Mammal Rescue
  • Get Involved
    • Adopt A Beach >
      • Adopt A Beach Sign Up
      • Adopted Beaches
    • Adopt A Reef >
      • Adopted Reefs
    • Volunteer
    • Reserve A Trip
  • Submit Report
    • Coral Watch
    • Lionfish Hunter
    • Oceans 365 Rare
    • Oceans 365 Report
    • Turtle Watch In-Water
    • Turtle Watch Nesting Beach
    • Submit Report Nesting Beach Old
    • Turtle Shell 4 Sale
    • Turtle Watch Stranded
    • Marine Mammal Form
  • Gift Shop
  • Donate
    • May 12 whale
  • Contact