Management Plan - Glover's Reef Marine Reserve

Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve – Management Plan
2008-2013
population of Belize and resulting in the relatively high population growth rate of 2.7%. At the
present rate of immigration, it has been calculated that the population of Belize will double in
twenty-six years, with much of this immigrant sector tending to be rural-based with low levels of
education, placing far greater stress on the natural resources than currently exists.
Whilst the economy of Belize as a
whole has been based largely on
agriculture, with banana, sugar and
citrus (Figure 5), the economy of
coastal communities in Belize has
been closely linked with the coral
reef, with lobster, conch, finfish and
shrimp providing income generation. These four fisheries products contribute significantly to the
economy of Belize, providing 5% of Belize’s national GDP in 2003 (CSO, 2004), with exports
valued at Bze$106.8 million (Bz$84.3 million of this contributed by farmed shrimp) (Fisheries
Department, 2004).
The fishing sector utilizing Glover’s Reef is part of an artisanal industry that provides direct
employment for over 3,000 people (McConney et. al., 2003). It is nationally comprised of 1,672
active fishermen and 552 sail boats (FAO, 2005), that fish primarily in the shallow protected
waters of the Belize Barrier Reef. The majority of the Glover’s Reef fishermen originate from the
Sarteneja, Dangriga and Hopkins, with a small number of fishermen from Belize City. These
fishermen use hand lines for finfish (primarily the fishermen from Dangriga and Hopkins), and
free-dive primarily for Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) and Queen Conch (Strombus gigas), both
of which have declined since the early 1980’s, when the industry was at its peak. 90% of the
lobster and conch is exported through the four fishing cooperatives, the remaining 10%, and the
majority of the finfish, being sold for local consumption. Fishermen tend to be between 15 and 35
years of age, often with limited education, leaving primary school to go directly into fishing (FAO,
2005). Alternative job opportunities within these coastal communities are limited, with few options.
There is also an increasing national reliance on the developing tourism industry, one of the
fastest growing sectors in Belize, and rapidly becoming the major foreign exchange earner, with
over 1 million tourists arriving in Belize in 2003. The majority of visitors to Glover’s Reef Atoll are
divers, kayakers, and fly fishermen, staying on the Atoll at one of the four tourism operations
based from the cayes. Figures for 2006 show that tourism income from reserve entrance fees
exceeded Bz$42,800 (Figure 6; Fisheries Dept.).
Bz$
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Figure 5: The Belize Economy (Exports and Imports) - 2002
Exports US$290 million
Imports US$430 million
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Month
Figure 6: Income from tourism fees, 2006 (Fisheries Department 2007)
Sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish
products, molasses, wood
Machinery and transportation
equipment, manufactured goods; food,
beverages, tobacco; fuels, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals
Wildtracks / Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007 13