New Protections For Coral Reefs And Dwindling Fish Species In Belize

April 27, 2009

Release from: Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com

Coral reefs in Belize, considered to be some of the most pristine in the west, have secured additional protections. Rene Montero, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, signed a set of new laws this month to protect Belize’s coral reefs and the fish that inhabit them. The additional laws protect increasingly overfished species, ban spearfishing in marine reserves, and create no-take zones, according to a press release from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

“We applaud the Government of Belize for these progressive new laws that will ensure a future for coral reefs in the region,” said Dr. Steven E. Sanderson, President and CEO of WCS. “Belize has set a new standard for coral reef and fisheries protection in the Caribbean.”

Algae-eating fish have gained special protection under the new law, such as parrotfish, doctor fish, and surgeon fish. Each of these herbivores has been shown to keep algae growth in-check, allowing for new corals to grow which otherwise would have been stymied by algae. Belize fishermen used to ignore parrotfish and other grazers, instead focusing on snappers and groupers. However subsequent declines in snappers and groupers due to overfishing led caused Belize fishermen to seek the next-best-fish namely parrotfish, a change that has threatened reef growth.

The new laws also protect the Nassau grouper, which is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List due to overfishing throughout the Caribbean. While the Nassau grouper can still be fished in Belize, the new laws set a maximum and minimum for size and require that Nassau groupers be brought in whole, so that the declining fish can be better monitored. Another measure intended to help Nassau grouper is the ban on spearfishing in marine reserves. Spearfishing is a common method for catching groupers.

Finally, two marine reserves have been declared no-take zones, i.e. areas closed entirely to fishing. South Water Caye and Sapodilla Cayes marine reserves were created in 1996, but Belize has allowed fishing throughout the reserves until now.