Belize Coral Reef Monitoring Network
The Belize Coral Reef Monitoring Network meets regularly to discuss current issues that impact coral reefs and work together to guide and plan monitoring activities within the coral reefs ecosystems of Belize. The Coral Network was reformed in 2008 in response to a forecast of severe coral bleaching with support from The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT).
One of the first activities coordinated by members of the Coral Network was to identify resilient reefs in Belize by conducting nationwide monitoring of coral bleaching levels at more than 50 reef sites. Bleaching patterns were recorded and reef sites that bleach and recover quickly were identified. One site was located outside a marine protected area and protection is currently being sought for this resilient reef. A summary of this activity has recently been published in the Coral Bleaching Response & Management Plan.
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Additional activities undertaken by members of the Coral Network include
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Visit the ERI's website to view the Coral Bleaching Database online. The Lionfish Response Plan can be accessed on the Links page.
Coral Network members are currently working on establishing a comprehensive water quality monitoring system to monitoring any changes and harmful algae blooms. If your organization is involved in monitoring reefs in Belize and can contribute to the goals and objectives of the Coral Network, please consider applying for membership. |
Get your message to those involved in monitoring reefs in Belize! Send your email to the Belize Marine Science List-Server launched in collaboration with ERI UB during the inauguration of the Coral Watch Program.
Belize Marine Science List-server
[email protected]
MEMBERS |
Members of the Coral Network include government departments and non-governmental organizations. Many are comanagers of marine protected areas, or are involved in marine conservation, research and outreach.
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Marine Protected Areas Managed by the Belize Fisheries Department
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The Belize Fisheries Department was the chair of the Coral Network when it was reactivated between 2008-2012. They manage five marine protected areas in Belize and their biologists conduct regular monitoring of marine life including coral reef health. The parks they manage include the Northern Marine Reserves of Bacalar Chico, Hol Chan and Caye Caulker, and the Southern Marine Reserves which include South Water Caye Marine Reserve and Glovers Atoll Marine Reserve.
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Bacalar Chico Marine ReserveThe Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve is Belize's northernmost protected area and borders Mexico. It extends southward on the eastern shores of Ambergris Caye to the old NOVA Shrimp Hatchery at Basil Jones.
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Hol Chan Marine ReserveThe staff at Hol Chan Marine Reserve are actively involved in educating the community on coral reefs. Each year Hol Chan hosts Reef Week where they have an annual fair and organize events to highlight the importance of the reef.
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Caye Caulker Marine Reserve
The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve is reserve is divided into the three zones: Preservation, Conservation and General Use. The reserve extends approximately a mile beyond the reef and is easily accessible from Caye Caulker, a popular tourism destination, and provides sheltered snorkeling and diving opportunities. Monitoring activity in the reserve is a daily activity for rangers and biologists. Coral Bleaching surveys had identified resilient reefs within the park.
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Glover's Reef Marine ReserveFisheries staff at Glover's work along with WCS in their annual in-water monitoring for sea turtles. Biologists also monitor the islands within Glover's for sea turtle nesting activity and ensure enforcement of the Fisheries Regulations which protect sea turtles.
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South Water Caye Marine ReserveThe SWCMR is one of the largest marine protected areas in Belize extending from Tobacco Caye in the north to islands east of Placencia along the central Belize Barrier Reef along it's southern border. Biologists actively monitor coral reef health.
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Other Quasi Government Agencies
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Coastal Zone Management Authority & InstituteCoastal Zone Management Authority and Institute oversee the Goff's Caye Management Area and are in the stages of finalizing the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan. The Coral Network meets at the conference room and holds workshops in the Training Room.
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University of Belize Environmental Research InstituteThe University of Belize's Environmental Research Institute manages the Calabash Caye Research Station where they conduct regular monitoring of the coral reefs within Turneffe Atoll. The ERI is actively involved in identifying research priority areas and have developed database system that houses the coral bleaching monitoring data
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Non Governmental Organizations
that Manage Marine Protected Areas
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The Belize Audubon Society are the caretakers of the Blue Hole National Park and the Half Moon Caye Natural Monument. in 1996 these parks became part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site. The Marine Protected Areas Manager and other staff based at Half Moon Caye conduct regular monitoring of the marine ecosystems including coral bleaching, lobster, conch and seagrass.
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Southern Environmental AssociationSEA manages three important marine reserves along the southern Belize Barrier Reef - Laughingbird Caye, Gladden Spit and the Silk Cayes and the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserves. There are many islands within the three MPAs that their biologists regularly monitor for sea turtle nesting activity and participated in the annual in-water sea turtle survey in 2011. SEA also actively promotes outreach on sea turtle conservation in the surrounding communities and monitors the Placencia Peninsula as well.
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Toledo Institute for Development & EnvironmentTIDE manages the Port Honduras Marine Reserve which encompasses 6 miles of sandy beach along mainland Belize from Monkey River to Punta Ycacos and numerous islands, all important for nesting sea turtles. TIDE is actively involved in monitoring the nesting beaches and participated in the annual in-water survey in 2011. They are also actively involved in promoting awareness of sea turtle conservation within their community and monitoring illegal take.
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NGOs Involved in Coral Reef Monitoring
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Blue VenturesBlue Ventures is a science-led social enterprise that develops transformative approaches for nurturing and sustaining locally led marine conservation. The organization works in partnership with coastal communities in places where the ocean is vital to the culture and economy, and promotes transformative and integrated approaches to marine conservation and coastal poverty alleviation.
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Environmental Conservation OrganizationECOMAR (Environmental Conservation Organization) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization promoting “Conservation through Education” and focuses on the marine environment. One method used to achieve this goal is to involve all levels of society in marine conservation including visitors, guides and fishermen. Current projects include Coral Watch Belize, Lionfish Wanted Dead or Alive, Reef Rally Marine Life Assessment and the Robinson Point Turtle Project.ECOMAR, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund, launched the Coral Watch Program in 2008, and acted as secretary for the Coral Network when it was reactivated through 2012, and one of the initial goals was to address the widespread coral bleaching in Belize. ECOMAR monitors for coral bleaching in conjunction with other members when monitoring events are scheduled. In 2009 ECOMAR and TNC in collaboration with UB/ERI launched the Belize Marine Science Listserver with the goal of sharing current events with those interested in marine affairs.
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Fragments of HopeFragments of Hope, Ltd (FoH) is a non-profit, non-governmental, membership organization dedicated to promoting (and implementing) active management solutions for threats to the Belize Barrier Reefs Reserve System (and related ecosystems). FoH is based in Placencia (southern Belize) but has experience and conducts work throughout the Belizean Barrier Reef System. FoH has a focus of active reef restoration but is also involved in capacity building, educational outreach efforts, and works in other marine ecosystems.
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Healthy ReefsHealthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative is an international, multi-institutional effort that tracks the health of the Mesoamerican Reef, the human choices that shape it and the progress in ensuring its long-term integrity. HRI is working to improve the understanding of reef health and provide a platform to increase the collective conservation impact in the Mesoamerican Reef.
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Wildlife Conservation SocietyWCS has a field station at Glover's Atoll and conducts annual in-water monitoring throughout the atoll. Their staff are actively involved in promoting sea turtle conservation in Belize and are represent Belize within international organizations including WIDECAST and the Inter-American Sea Turtle Convention (IAC).
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FOUNDING MEMBERS
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The Nature ConservancyTNC has been working to protect nature in Belize since 1991 when they first started supporting conservation at the Rio Bravo Conservation Area Carbon Sequestration Project. They supported the reviatlization of the Coral Reef Monitoring Network on 2008, and recently orchestrated the Blue Bond agreement with the Government of Belize.
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World Wildlife FundThe WWF office in Belize collaborates with many Coral Network members in protecting the reefs and marine life in Belize. WWF along with TNC reactivated the Coral Network in 2008 and supported Coral Bleaching Monitoring and Coral Network meetings and many other important projects in Belize.
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Membership
The Terms of Reference for the Belize National Coral Reef Monitoring Network state that organizations interested in becoming a member should submit a letter to the chair outlining their organization's work, reasons for wanting to become a member and how they can contribute to the goals of the group. The request will be reviewed at the next meeting of the group and the secretary will respond to all requests. Please send your request to the most recent chair and secretary as outlined below.
Chair |
Secretary |
2016-2020 |
Ellen McRae
Siwaban Caye Caulker Eli Romero
Belize Audubon Society North Park Street Belize City Tel: 223-5004 |
Ninon Martinez
University of Belize Environmental Research Institute Belmopan |
2014-2016 |
James R. Foley, MSc.
Science Director Toledo Institute for Development and Environment Punta Gorda, Belize Office: (501) 722-2274 Cell: (501) 635-4989 www.tidebelize.org |
Roberto Pott, MSc.
Belize Coordinator Healthy Reefs for Healthy People 1755 Coney Dr Belize City, Belize Tel: 501-223-4898 Cell: 501-610-4899 www.healthyreefs.org |
2012-2014 |
Annelise Hagan, PhD
Science Director Southern Environmental Association Placencia, Belize Tel. #: 501-523-3377/3501 Email: [email protected] http://seabelize.org |
Virginia Burns Perez
Technical Coordinator Wildlife Conservation Society Belize Global Conservation Programme PO Box 768 1755 Coney Drive, 2nd Floor Belize City, Belize Phone: (501) 223-3271 Fax: (501) 223-3005 e-mail: [email protected] www.wcs.org |
2008-2012 |
Isaias Majil
Protected Areas Manager Belize Fisheries Department Princess Margaret Drive Belize City, Belize TEL: + (501) 224-4552 Email: [email protected] http://www.agriculture.gov.bz/Fisheries_Dept.html |
Linda Searle, MSc.
Managing Director ECOMAR St George's Caye PO Box 1234 Belize City, Belize TEL: (501) 671-3483 Email: [email protected] www.ecomarbelize.org |
