Management Plan - Glover's Reef Marine Reserve

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Northeast Caye Glovers Reef Marine Reserve – Management Plan Northeast Caye, the northernmost of the cayes, is located to the north of the eastern channel leading into the atoll. It is semicircular in shape, with an area of approximately 4.5 ha. The windward side has a high rubble/shingle beach. A total of 40 species of plants were recorded on the island (Stoddart 1962; Linhart 1980; Stoddart et al.1982). Presently, a tall broadleaf littoral forest grows on the southeast side of the caye, and is characterized by sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) and gumbo limbo (Bursera simarubra), with Ficus citrifolia, Pouteria campehiana and Cordia sebestena. A patch of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) lies on the western half of the caye (Meerman 1995), whilst a dense, unmanaged coconut grove dominates the centre of the caye (Walker, 2007). A multi-species herbaceous flora to the northwest extends towards a rich beach flora that has established on coral rubble deposited by Hurricane Mitch. A small brackish pond lies in the centre of the caye. Figure 18: Northeast Caye The Lomont family owns the island and run a small resort comprised of rustic cabanas over the water (Figure 18), along with a PADI dive shop and kayak rental business. Long Caye North (Lomont Caye) This small shingle caye or islet, also owned by the Lomonts, has developed on a patch reef located in the main channel between Northeast Caye and Long Caye island. Whilst originally having an area of about 0.5 ha, it was heavily impacted and eroded by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which completely destroyed the building located on the caye. Originally, the caye was covered by coastal scrub, with a total of 22 plant species identified by Stoddart (1962), Linhart (1980) and Stoddart et al. (1982). The islet is now an almost completely bare sand caye, with very little vegetation, and a small palapa. Long Caye Long Caye is a long, narrow island with an area of approximately 6 ha, with two well- developed, parallel shingle ramparts formed by successive storms. Beachrock is found at its southeast corner, and the reef rock is exposed at low tide, forming pools. To the north is a low peninsula that is intermittently connected to the caye. Most of the island is covered with coconut plantation, with 28 other plant species recorded (Stoddart 1962, Linhart 1980, Stoddart et al.1982). In 1994, a survey of the western side of he caye only identified 25 plant species (Meerman, 1995), including chit palms (Thrinax radiata), on the southern part of the island, and ziricote (Cordia sebestena), on the coral ridge. The black torch (Erithalis fruticosa) and the passionflower (Passiflora suberosa) were the two most Wildtracks / Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007 35
Glovers Reef Marine Reserve – Management Plan frequently observed species, forming dense tangles on the southern end of the island. Whilst mangrove was present, it was very limited in its distribution. Figure 19: Above: Landscaping at Off The Wall Figure 20: Below: Slickrock accommodation Middle Caye In 1997, the coconut trees on the island were infected by the lethal yellowing disease, with dying palms recorded on all parts of the caye, the most severely affected area being the southern point (Berlin & Quiroz, 1998) The owners of Slickrock and Off the Wall Dive Shop on the northern half of the caye have been treating some of the coconut trees and replanting with the resistant Mayapan hybrid. More recent work indicates that, with the exception of the beachfront area operated by Slick Rock, the condition of the native flora has improved in condition in recent years – subsequent to the loss of much of the coconut cover (Walker, 2007). Littoral forest and herbaceous beach community plant species are re-establishing across much of the island, and have been successfully incorporated into the landscaping around the Off-the-Wall Dive Shop facilities. Two companies run tourist businesses from this caye: Slickrock runs a small resort with several cabanas on the northern end and specializes in kayaking, and Off-the-Wall Dive Shop runs a dive operation and small island resort located on the central portion of the caye. Middle Caye, with an area of about 6 ha, is situated near the center of the unbroken southeast reef tract. It has beachrock on the seaward shore and a swampy area on the southwestern end, with a brackish water pond located in the center. In the past, most of the caye was covered with coconut thicket, with a total of 42 plants species recorded in the past by Stoddart (1962), Linhart (1980) and Stoddart et al. (1982) and 30 species in 1998 by Meadows (Bright 1999). Meadows noted that no black mangroves were present on the caye during the 1998 survey, though it has become reestablished on the north- Figure 21: Middle Caye (WCS/S. Hoare) Wildtracks / Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007 36
Page 1 and 2: g Plan Photographs: Glover’s Atol
Page 3 and 4: Contents Glover’s Reef Marine Res
Page 5 and 6: Tables Glover’s Reef Marine Reser
Page 7 and 8: Maps Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve
Page 9 and 10: Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve - Ma
Page 11 and 12: Map 1: Glover’s Reef Atoll UTM Co
Page 15 and 16: 2.3 National Context 2.3.1 Legal an
Page 19 and 20: Environmental Services of the Prote
Page 25 and 26: 2.4 Physical Environment of Managem
Page 27 and 28: Glovers Reef Marine Reserve - Manag
Page 29 and 30: 2.4.3 Bathymetry Glovers Reef Marin
Page 31 and 32: 2.4.4 Tides and Water Movement Glov
Page 35 and 36: Map 3: Ecosystems of Glover’s Ree
Page 37 and 38: Peripheral Reefs Glovers Reef Marin
Page 39 and 40: Patch Reefs Glovers Reef Marine Res
Page 41: Map 4: Location of Cayes Glovers Re
Page 47 and 48: 2.5.3 Fauna Mammals Glovers Reef Ma
Page 51 and 52: Economically Important Species Ther
Page 53 and 54: Table 16: Conch catches from Glover
Page 55 and 56: Table 18: Maximum Nassau Grouper co
Page 63 and 64: 2.6.2 Archaeological Sites Glovers
Page 65 and 66: generally have dive guides resident
Page 67 and 68: 3. Conservation Planning Glovers Re
Page 69 and 70: Hawksbill Turtle Glovers Reef Marin
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Figure 52: Damage to Reef (Habitat
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3.2.5 Land development/habitat loss
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3.2.8 Dredging Dredging and Associa
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Glovers Reef Marine Reserve - Manag
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4. Management Planning 4.1 Manageme
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4.4.2 Management Zones Glovers Reef
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Map 6: Glover’s Reef Marine Reser
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Conservation Zone The Conservation
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Spawning Aggregation Site This zone
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Natural Resource Management Program
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Natural Resource Management Program
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Monitoring Activities 2007 - 2012 R
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4.5.4 Public Use Programme Glovers
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Public Use Programme Activities 200
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4.5.6 Administrative Programme Glov
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Table 27: Charges for licenses and
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References Glovers Reef Marine Rese
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IUCN (2007) Red List Glovers Reef M
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Measures of Success of Implementati
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Bird Species of Glover’s Reef Ato
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Table 22: Bird Species of Glover’
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Table 19: Fish Species of Glover’
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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Glovers
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Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus
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3. Implement environmental monitori
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Management Plan - Glover's Reef Marine Reserve

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