The Belize Barrier Reef: A Tale Of Resilience And Recovery

The Belize Barrier Reef is not dead, but it is under threat. This 300-kilometre-long reef is the second-largest coral reef system in the world and is home to a vast array of plants and animals. It is also vital to Belize's economy, contributing significantly to the fishing and tourism industries. However, the reef has been damaged by coastal construction, oil drilling, oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing, and the effects of climate change. In 2009, it was placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, but thanks to recent conservation efforts, it was removed from the list in 2018.

Belize Barrier Reef's economic importance

The Belize Barrier Reef is the country's top tourist destination, attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is also vital to Belize's fishing industry. The reef is popular for scuba diving and snorkelling, and it is estimated that 15% of the country's gross domestic product comes from the reef, including about $15 million from commercial fishing and about $200 million from tourism. The reef also saves Belize up to $350 million per year in avoided damage from storms and other natural disasters.

The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest coral reef system in the world, and it is home to a large diversity of plants and animals. It has been described as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies" by Charles Darwin in 1842. The reef is a significant habitat for threatened species, including marine turtles, manatees, and the American marine crocodile. It is also home to 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, and hundreds of invertebrate species.

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, designated a World Heritage Site in 1996, includes seven marine reserves, 450 cayes, and three atolls. It totals 960 square kilometres (370 sq mi) in area. The reserve system protects a large portion of the reef, and Belize has implemented protective measures such as banning bottom trawling and offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the reef. However, the reef remains under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing.

Conservation efforts

The Belize Barrier Reef is not dead, but it is under threat. It is the second-largest coral reef system in the world and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The reef is home to a diverse array of plants and animals, including 70 hard coral species and 36 soft coral species, and hundreds of invertebrate species. It is also a significant habitat for threatened species, such as marine turtles, manatees, and the American marine crocodile.

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) is a network of seven protected marine areas located along the length of the barrier reef, the shelf lagoon, and offshore atolls. These seven sites illustrate the evolutionary history of reef development and provide essential habitats for threatened species. The BBRRS covers 12% of the entire reef complex and includes areas such as the Blue Hole Natural Monument, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, and Glover's Reef Marine Reserve.

Fragments of Hope

Marine Biologist Lisa Carne, community fisherfolk, and locals initiated the coral fragmentation process after Hurricane Iris devastated the reef in Southern Belize in 2001. Carne founded Fragments of Hope, a community-based non-profit organization, to continue restoring corals in Laughing Bird Caye and other parts of the Barrier Reef. The organization also educates children about the importance of reef restoration through school visits.

Fish Right, Eat Right (FRER)

Oceana Belize launched the FRER certification program in 2016 to address illegal fishing and promote sustainability and responsible food sourcing and consumption in Belize. The program has trained fisherfolk and restauranteurs on sustainable fishing methods, fisheries regulations, and fish handling. By encouraging sustainable fishing practices, the FRER program helps protect the reef and restore fish stocks.

Environmental Protection Resolution

In response to the billions of single-use plastics and Styrofoam imported by Belize annually, the Department of Environment pushed for the Environmental Protection Resolution. This resolution aims to phase out single-use plastics and Styrofoam, which pose a significant threat to marine life, such as sea turtles and seabirds, and the reef ecosystem.

Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA)

TASA has been instrumental in maintaining the health of the Turneffe Atoll, one of the most diverse marine ecosystems within the Mesoamerican reef system. They have implemented a boat-to-boat campaign to inform fishers about fisheries regulations, particularly regarding the Turneffe Marine Reserve. Additionally, they have installed a mooring network in the marine reserve to ensure proper moorings and channel markers, reducing the risk of damage to coral and seagrass ecosystems by tourism and fishing vessels. TASA is also working on the Seaweed Mariculture Initiative to help fishers diversify their income sources and reduce ocean acidification and carbon sequestration, contributing to a healthier reef system.

Coral bleaching and other threats

Coral bleaching is a significant threat to the Belize Barrier Reef. When corals are under stress, they expel the microscopic algae that live in their tissues. Without these algae, the corals' tissues become transparent, exposing their white skeletons. This process is known as coral bleaching. While bleached corals are not dead, they are at a higher risk of starvation and disease.

The primary cause of coral bleaching is rising ocean temperatures due to climate change. Even a temperature increase of one degree Celsius for four weeks can trigger bleaching. During bleaching, corals become transparent, revealing their white skeletons. Other factors that can contribute to coral bleaching include changes in water quality, increased sun exposure, and extreme low tides.

The Belize Barrier Reef has experienced mass bleaching events, with the first occurring in 1995, resulting in an estimated mortality of 10% of coral colonies. A second mass bleaching event took place when Hurricane Mitch struck in 1998, leading to a 48% reduction in live coral cover across the Belize reef system. The distinction between human activities and natural reasons, such as storms, as the cause of coral bleaching is often challenging to determine. However, human population density and pollution levels in the area surrounding the Belize Barrier Reef are lower compared to other coral reefs.

In addition to coral bleaching, the Belize Barrier Reef faces threats from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. These activities can have detrimental effects on the reef's health and contribute to the decline of its coral coverage. Furthermore, hurricanes and global warming, which leads to increased ocean temperatures, pose significant dangers to the reef's ecosystem.

Belize's government legislation

The Belize Barrier Reef is not dead, but it is under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing, hurricanes, global warming, and oil drilling.

Belize's government has implemented various legislative measures to protect the reef:

• The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS), designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, comprises seven protected areas, including marine reserves, national parks, and natural monuments. These protected areas cover approximately 12% of the entire Reef Complex.
• Belize has enacted legal protection measures for the BBRRS under its national constitution, the Fisheries Act, and the National Parks Act.
• The National Protected Areas Policy provides the overarching policy framework for protected areas, while the National Protected Areas System Plan outlines specific requirements for resource management, planning, and management effectiveness evaluations.
• Belize banned bottom trawling in 2010 and prohibited offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the Barrier Reef in 2015.
• The government has established co-management agreements with non-governmental organizations to ensure successful on-the-ground supervision, backed by national legislation and official management plans.
• Belize has included the models developed by the NASA DEVELOP project team in its Coastal Zone Management Plan, which guides sustainable development decisions.
• The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) plays a crucial role in integrated coastal management, and the implementation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan helps control and mitigate threats such as uncontrolled development, unsustainable tourism, and fishing.

Belize's Barrier Reef as a natural wonder

The Belize Barrier Reef is a natural wonder, a series of coral reefs that stretch the entire length of the country's coastline. This 300km-long reef system is the second-largest of its kind in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It is also the largest in the northern hemisphere, and in 1996, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a natural barrier that protects the country's shores from large waves, even during extreme weather events. It is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life, including:

• 70 hard coral species
• 36 soft coral species
• Hundreds of invertebrate species
• Sea turtles
• Manatees
• The American marine crocodile
• 500 species of fish

The reef is also home to the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1970. The Belize Barrier Reef is a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers, and it is vital to the country's fishing industry and tourism, which contribute significantly to Belize's economy.

However, the reef is under threat from human activities such as coastal construction, potential oil drilling, oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. It has also been affected by hurricanes and coral bleaching events caused by rising ocean temperatures due to global warming. Despite protective measures, scientists claim that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.

Frequently asked questions