Empowering Fishing Communities in the MAR Reef

Heading a little to the north east side of Belize, we find ourselves in Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS), encompassing approximately 72,000 hectares of the Belize portion of the Mesoamerican Reef’s largest estuarine system. Co-managed by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) since 2007, in partnership with the Forestry Department. This area has five stakeholder coastal communities (Sarteneja, Chunox, Copper Bank, Consejo and Corozal), of which Sarteneja is the most dependent on the marine resources of CBWS.

To support and involve fishers in sustainable fishing practices, SACD developed an economic project with the Sarteneja Beach Trap Pesca Tours Association (SBTPTA). This project focused on tourism as a form of diversifying income for fisher households and promoting sustainable fishing practices in CBWS by enhancing SBTPTA through ecotourism.

The Sarteneja Beach Trap Pesca Tour Association was formed to represent the interests of the trap fishers from Sarteneja as traditional users of the area. Presently the association is taking the first steps towards tourism by creating ‘Pesca Tours’, which entails taking out tourists to experience traditional fishing in Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Though this support, the association was trained in best fishing practices to promote sustainable fishing in the area. Tour guides previously trained by SACD and the wives of the fishermen are part of this project by offering traditional cooked meals and wildlife watching tours. The fisher wives were trained in basic conversational English and food handling, and they received kitchen equipment to be able to cook for visitors. The members of the association also received equipment to conduct ecotourism and improved their fishing practices for a greater appeal to the environmentally friendly tourist. They developed itineraries for the Pesca Tours, including the original tour (visiting the fish traps followed by a traditional meal of fish).

Through this project the members are able to showcase their beautiful area and promote sustainable activities within the community and with tourists.

We have been able to support SACD in this endeavor thanks to your support. Because of your involvement, we are able to work closely with communities and promote sustainable fishing practices in the region.

Thank you

The MAR Fund Team.