BELIZE’S THREATENED BEAUTY

By Emily Fisher

In 1842, in his study of the evolution of coral reefs, Charles Darwin declared that Belize was home to "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies." More than 150 years later, that spectacular reef is increasingly threatened by overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Oceana announced plans this summer to open its first Central American office in the country to help protect and preserve Belize's  unique reefs.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a 186 mile-long section of the 560 mile-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which stretches from the northeast  tip of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to Amatique Bay, Guatemala, making it  the second largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Belize is home to three of the Western Hemisphere's four rare offshore atolls, which are circular reefs surrounding a central lagoon. One of the country's most famous attractions, the Blue Hole, is part of Belize's Lighthouse Atoll. A mecca for divers, the Blue Hole is a sapphire-blue submarine cave more than 90 meters wide and over 120 meters deep.

Roughly the size of New Jersey, Belize has one of the lowest population densities in the world. Despite its small population, the country's marine resources are not immune to environmental degradation. In November 2008, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, an international, multi- institutional effort studying the Mesoamerican Reef, released its first comprehensive health assessment.

Of the 140 Belizean sites the group tested for reef health, 53 percent were rated "poor," and 39 percent were "fair," leaving only 3 percent in "good" health, and none in "very good" health. The report concluded that even Belize's remote offshore atolls are no longer pristine. Further confirming the trend, in late June, the Belize Barrier Reef was added to the UNESCO list of endangered World Heritage sites.

So what's making the Belize Barrier Reef sick?


Unregulated coastal development is destroying the country's mangrove forests, which prevent erosion, provide nursery habitat for many fish species and help filter pollutants and trap sediments that can kill seagrasses and reefs.

Meanwhile, climate change and ocean acidification form a dangerous duo for coral reefs, causing coral bleaching and inhibiting their ability to form shells.

In addition, the reef ecosystem is threatened by the overfishing of species such as snapper, grouper and the reef-cleaning parrotfish. And while many of Belize's fishermen practice artisanal methods, including diving for conch and lobster, destructive gillnets are also common. Shrimp trawl nets drag over the seafloor, creating an enormous amount of bycatch and damaging habitat.

The new vice president of Oceana's Belize office, former journalist and attorney-at-law Audrey Matura-Shepherd, has a deep affection for her native country's marine habitat - and knows that Belize's reef is one of its greatest natural resources.

"We need to protect our resources for tourism," she said. "People visit Belize because they hear about our diving spots and our reefs. Foreign currency is very important to the continued survival of a healthy economy."

While many scientists and NGOs in the region have recommended policies to achieve healthy fisheries and reefs, the government has yet to adopt them, Matura-Shepherd said.

"Belize is blessed with a wealth of marine treasures," said Andrew Sharpless, CEO of Oceana. "With Ms. Matura-Shepherd's leadership, Oceana is poised to help protect these incredible reefs for future generations."

Roughly the size of New Jersey, Belize has one of the lowest population densities in the world, with 322,000 people, almost half the population in the city of Washington, DC. But a recent study illustrates how despite its small population, the country's marine resources are not immune to environmental degradation.

In November 2008, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, an international, multi-institutional effort tracking the health of the Mesoamerican Reef, released a Report Card for the Mesoamerican Reef, the first comprehensive health assessment of the reef.

Of the 140 Belizean sites the group tested for reef health, 53% were rated "poor," and 39% were "fair," leaving only 3% in "good" health, and none in "very good" health. The report concluded that even Belize's remote offshore atolls are no longer pristine.

So what's making the Belize Barrier Reef sick?

For starters, unregulated coastal development is destroying the country's mangrove forests. Mangroves prevent erosion, provide nursery habitat for many fish species, and help filter pollutants and trap sediments that can kill seagrasses and reefs.

In addition, pollution from land clearing and environmentally destructive agricultural  practices weaken natural buffers between land and water.

Meanwhile, climate change and ocean acidification form a dangerous duo for coral reefs, causing coral bleaching and inhibiting their ability to form shells. Regular hurricanes and serious storms, which may be exacerbated by climate change, also wreak havoc on corals.

Finally, the overfishing of snappers, groupers, and more recently, the reef-cleaning parrotfish, threatens the health of the reef ecosystem.

The new head of Oceana's Belize office, former journalist and attorney-at-law Audrey Matura-Shepherd, has a deep affection for her native country's marine habitat, but she wasn't always aware of the threats it faces.

"For the first 25 years of my life, I wasn't concerned; I just thought I lived in the most beautiful place in the world," she said. "As tourism increased I realized there were things we took for granted, and others valued it more than us."

Matura-Shepherd went on to stress the economic value of the reef. "We need to protect our resources for tourism," she said. "People visit Belize because they hear about our diving spots and our reefs. Foreign currency is very important to the continued survival of a healthy economy."

Oceana is in the process of determining its policy goals in the region, but one thing's as clear as Belize's Caribbean waters: the Belize Barrier Reef will be the centerpiece of conservation efforts, and there's plenty to be done.

"Belize is blessed with a wealth of natural marine resources," said Oceana CEO Andy Sharpless. "Oceana, with Ms. Matura-Shepherd's leadership, is ready to assist in continuing the good work already accomplished by the citizens, the government and other conservation groups toward protecting Belize's waters."