When marine ecologist Katie Flowers first started conducting research at Glovers Reef Marine Reserve, a marine protected area (MPA) in Belize, she found a thriving population of Caribbean reef sharks. Then, about six years ago, shark numbers started to plummet across the MPA. “We weren’t exactly expecting them to decline,” Flowers of Florida International University […]
Jun 25, 2021
New Regulations to Protect Sharks in Belizean Waters
Here’s a public notice to fisher folks across the country, sharks fishing is now banned within radius of two nautical miles around Lighthouse Reef, Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atoll. This follows new regulations approved the Government of Belize to establish a safe haven for sharks across an area of approximately one thousand, five hundreds square miles. The National Shark Working Group, a team comprised of government, shark fisher folk, N.G.O.s and researchers provided recommendations to the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation. The initiative combines the fisher’s knowledge with the experience of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sharks and Rays Conservation Program.