Belize's Bottom Trawling Ban: A Marine Environment Savior?

In 2010, Belize became one of the first countries in the world to ban bottom trawling in all its waters. The ban was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration, which had been making environmentally friendly decisions following a threat from UNESCO to strip the Belize Barrier Reef System of its World Heritage Site status.

The call to ban bottom trawling had been made years prior to the legislation being passed but lacked the political will, as the government was faced with the reality of what to do with the existing trawlers owned and operated by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC). Oceana in Belize played a crucial role in the decision, collaborating with the government to negotiate the buy-out of the two shrimp trawlers.

The ban on bottom trawling in Belize was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration

The ban on bottom trawling in Belize was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrows' administration. The ban, which came into effect on December 31, 2010, was a result of the collaboration between Oceana in Belize and the government.

Bottom trawling is a highly destructive fishing practice where boats drag a fishing net along the sea floor, collecting anything in its path, including bycatch, or untargeted catch. This practice has been known to harm marine life, including sea turtles, marine mammals, and untargeted fish.

The call to ban bottom trawling was made years before the legislation was passed, but it lacked the political will as the government was unsure about what to do with the existing trawlers owned and operated by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC). Oceana in Belize played a crucial role in the decision by negotiating the buy-out of the two shrimp trawlers.

With the ban, Belize became one of the first countries in the world to institute a complete and permanent ban on trawling in all its waters. The country has also banned offshore oil drilling and gillnets, making its ocean conservation laws some of the strongest in the world.

The Belizean government is currently revising its fisheries laws and formulating a comprehensive fisheries policy to better manage the Belizean fishery. This includes implementing a nationwide gillnet ban and helping licensed gillnet fishers transition to other jobs.

The ban protects the second largest reef system in the world from the destructive fishing practice

The Belize Barrier Reef System is the second largest reef system in the world. In 2010, Belize became one of the first countries to institute a complete and permanent ban on trawling in all its waters. The ban was implemented to protect the reef from the destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling.

Bottom trawling is one of the most destructive forms of fishing gear in the world. Shrimp trawls are notorious for the amount of bycatch, or untargeted catch, they haul in. Bottom trawlers' weighted nets effectively clear-cut the ocean floor with every pass, destroying sensitive corals and anything else in their way.

The ban, which went into effect on December 31, 2010, was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration. It was made on the heels of a threat from UNESCO to strip the Belize Barrier Reef System of its World Heritage Site status.

The ban was also made possible by Oceana in Belize, which collaborated with the government to negotiate the buy-out of the two shrimp trawlers owned and operated by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC). Oceana was able to secure the full support of the Belize Fishermen Association, which has a membership of four cooperative organizations including the NFC.

Belize is now in the process of revising its fisheries laws and formulating a comprehensive fisheries policy to deal with the management of the Belizean fishery.

The ban was supported by the Belize Fishermen Association

The ban on bottom trawling in Belize was supported by the Belize Fishermen Association (BFCA), which has a membership of four cooperative organisations, including the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC). In a letter to the government, the BFCA expressed support for the buyout of the trawlers and agreed to support Oceana in its endeavour to ban all trawling permanently within Belizean waters.

The BFCA's support was secured after consultation with the fishermen directly affected by the proposed ban. The letter was signed by the Chairman Allan Bevans Green, Vice Chairman, Carlton Young and Secretary Ovel Leonardo Sr.

The ban, which went into effect on December 31st, 2010, was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration.

The ban was influenced by the threat from UNESCO to strip the Belize Barrier Reef System of its World Heritage Site status

In 2010, Belize banned all forms of trawling in the country's waters, including its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The ban, which went into effect on December 31, 2010, was a historic decision by Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration, influenced by the threat from UNESCO to strip the Belize Barrier Reef System of its World Heritage Site status.

The Belize Barrier Reef System, a World Heritage Site since 1996, is an outstanding natural system that is home to a diverse range of species. However, in recent years, it faced significant threats from industrial activities, including oil exploration and harmful coastal construction. In 2009, UNESCO added the reef to its List of World Heritage in Danger due to the risk of irreversible damage.

In response to UNESCO's warning, the Belizean government implemented a series of conservation measures, including a moratorium on oil exploration and drilling in all of Belize's offshore waters. This landmark legislation, enacted in December 2017, was a crucial step in protecting the reef and its fragile ecosystem. The government also worked with local civil society organisations and international groups like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to address the concerns raised by UNESCO.

As a result of these efforts, in June 2018, UNESCO removed the Belize Barrier Reef System from its List of World Heritage in Danger, recognising Belize's commitment to safeguarding this natural treasure. The removal from the list highlighted the country's transition to a global leader in marine conservation and the effectiveness of collaborative action between the government, UNESCO, and civil society.

The ban was influenced by the work of Oceana in Belize

The ban on bottom trawling in Belize was influenced by the work of Oceana in Belize, which has been promoting the protection of Belize's marine resources since 2009. Oceana in Belize played a crucial role in the decision to ban bottom trawling by collaborating with the Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow's administration to negotiate the buy-out of the two shrimp trawlers owned and operated by the Northern Fishermen Cooperative Association (NFC).

Trawling is one of the most destructive forms of fishing gear in the world. Shrimp trawls are notorious for the amount of bycatch, or untargeted catch, they haul in. Shrimp trawlers around the world catch thousands of sea turtles, marine mammals, and untargeted fish every year. Bottom trawlers' weighted nets effectively clear-cut the ocean floor with every pass, destroying sensitive corals and anything else in their way.

In December 2010, the Belizean government announced a ban on all forms of trawling in the country's waters, including its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The ban, which went into effect on December 31, 2010, was a historic decision by the Belizean government, which had been making environmentally friendly decisions in response to the threat from UNESCO that it would strip the Belize Barrier Reef System of its World Heritage Site status.

With this ban, Belize became one of the first countries in the world to institute a complete and permanent ban on trawling in all its waters. The Belizean government is currently revising its fisheries laws and formulating a comprehensive fisheries policy to manage the Belizean fishery.

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