The dreaded hurricane that Florida residents were bracing for has finally passed, but not without causing significant devastation. At least twelve lives were lost, many more people are now homeless, and millions are without power. The hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, late Wednesday evening as a Category Three storm, packing winds of one hundred and twenty miles per hour. It uprooted trees and knocked down light poles, causing widespread power outages along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Many Belizeans living in the storm’s path were affected. While there have been no reports of Belizean casualties, many are now beginning the arduous task of cleaning up and repairing their damaged homes. Before hitting land, the hurricane had intensified to a Category Five in the Gulf of Mexico but weakened just before making landfall. It dumped over ten inches of rain in some parts of Florida, with other areas receiving an additional eight to twelve inches.
Year: 2024
Building a Healthier Society Through Nutrition Education
Teaching children healthy nutrition is not an easy task when the unhealthy options that exist are backed by huge marketing budgets to increase their appeal. One school has discovered that one way to change a child’s mind about eating healthy is to include healthy eating habits in their daily routine. That’s what Stella Maris School is doing with “Fruity Tuesdays” and “Water Wednesdays” initiatives. And that approach works in tandem with a regional campaign to eliminate the region’s most deadly food product, trans fat. Teaching children to eat healthy empowers them to avoid food options that can lead to non-communicable diseases. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more in this week’s installment of Belize on Reel.
A healthy, nutritious diet is essential to a child’s physical and mental well-being. This is one of the reasons why the Ministry of Health and Wellness launched the “Healthy Habits, Healthy Schools, Healthy Belize” campaign. Stella Maris School adopted the program.
Sheree Salgado, Teacher, Stella Maris School
“As a staff we came up with different activities we can do. On Tuesdays we have what we call fruity Tuesday. Parents are encouraged to send their child with a fruit. That day we don’t want any chips, any biscuits. So, you will that the classes will do different activities with the fruits. On Wednesdays we do a water Wednesday. We don’t want to see any ideals, any juice. So, student and teachers are encouraged to drink water on Wednesdays.”
These two students at Stella Maris School are busy at work, preparing their plate of fruits for a midday snack. They are encouraged to bring their own fruits and to get involved in the cutting up the fruits, while they learn to identify each one. As a school for children living with various disabilities, too much sugary drinks and snacks can prove counterproductive.
Teacher
“What is this?”
Student #1
“Grapes”
Teacher
“And this one?”
Student #1
“Apple”
“And this one?”
Student #1
“Banana”
Teacher
“What is this one?”
Student #2
“Banana, Apple.”
Teacher
“And this one, Grapes.”
Student #2
“Grapes.”
Paul Lopez
“What are some examples of healthy food?”
Elijah Martinez, Student, Stella Maris School
“Orange Banana, Carrots, Lime and dende.”
Paul Lopez
“And what are some examples of unhealthy food?”
Elijah Martinez
“Sweet, fry chicken.”
Paul Lopez
“Why should kids decided to eat healthy food?”
Elijah Martinez
“To let them grow, look better and build up deh blood and so.”
Paul Lopez
“For you, how often do you eat healthy, be honest?”
“Well, I eat healthy every Tuesday and Monday.”
Paul Lopez
“How about Wednesday and Thursday and Friday?”
Elijah Martinez
“Sometimes I eat healthy on Thursday and Friday.”
Paul Lopez
“Why is it important for children to eat healthy food instead of unhealthy food?”
Malique Requena, Student, Stella Maris
“Because it makes you strong, when you eat your fruit and vegetables every day you eat?”
Paul Lopez
“What are some examples of healthy food?”
Malique Requena
“There are fruits, vegetables, all kind of things we need to eat.”
Their knowledge is testament to the fact that anyone can learn to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food options to make better choices. Also, introducing these lifestyle lessons into the school system builds a healthy nutrition foundation at an early age.
“You know, after a hard day of work, you come home, you tired, especially as a teacher and you have your children at home waiting for you and you just look for something easy. But, we can do easy stuff that are healthy. We just need to be more educated about it, rather than just go and grab a fry chicken and a pack bread.”
Salgado contends that teaching children healthy eating habits in schools begin with adults first understanding the body’s daily nutritional needs. In fact, there is an entire regional campaign geared towards banning a food product that is a danger to Caribbean health, trans fats.
Koleen Neal, Nutritionist, Dangriga Polyclinic
“Trans fats are an unhealthy type of fat that could lead to having high cholesterol. It is naturally produced in animals, and you could find it in dairy products. The unhealthy trans fats are industry produced.”
It goes through a process called hydrogenation which turns the liquid to solid so that the product can have a longer shelf life. Shortening and margarine butter are examples of trans fats. It can also be found in many store-bought prepackaged snacks. Ice cream also contains trans-fat.
Koleen Neal
“What makes it bad is because it solidifies at room temperature imagine what it does to your arteries. So, because it does that, it causes a blockage in the arteries. Before it does that, your levels of high cholesterol increase, which is one of the risk factors of having a heart disease.”
Paul Lopez
“Are there healthier options? Since this is solid, are liquids healthier?”
Koleen Neal
“We recommend unsaturated fats. These are liquid oils. These stay liquid at room temperature. So it is less likely to solidify or clog the arteries.”
With this knowledge in hand, Elijah gave his advice to children about eating healthy.
Elijah Martinez
“I wah tell deh, yo always have to stay healthy, eat good fruit on Wednesday and Tuesday and Thursday. And in my opinion, I suppose to eat healthy to, because that will build me up and make me better.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Belizean Youths Discuss Disaster Risk Reduction
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Disaster is everyone’s business, because when a disaster hits it does not discriminate. The young and the old stand to be affected. Today, children are at the forefront providing key input on how Belize can improve its disaster risk reduction practices and policies.
Brielle Goff, Student, E. P Yorke High School
“One of the things I see that children face is let us say their house gets flood out, like ok they have their textbooks in their and stuff like that, the resources they had are no longer there because it go damaged from the disaster. There is not always resources that they can get it back. So for example their uniform get damage and they only have one and they would have to wear that uniform again and again and then when they go to school, people bully them. So, I feel like that would be one of the things, they don’t have the supplies.”
Brielle Goff, a student at E.P. Yorke High School provided us with real examples of how children are impacted by disasters and the importance of reducing these vulnerabilities. She was able to voice her concerns at the National Emergency Management Organization’s first first-ever Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Forum.
Fern Guitterez, Deputy National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO
“The importance of having the youths building the framework for resiliency is a must as we continue to as a country conquer the issues related with climate change. So, the new approach to disaster risk management is to ensure that we have an all-inclusive approach to having a resilient nation. The goal is to ensure that young people understand that they have a role to play in disaster. Disaster is all of our business. Ensuring that they are actively involved in your local communities, ensuring that you are a part of your plans or programs, a part of your family hurricane plans, or family hazard plans.”
The University of Belize’s Environmental Club was also a participant in today’s discussion. Their interest is geared toward reducing the risks faced by our natural environment in a disaster event.
Samuel Esperanza, Vice President, UB Environmental Club
“Whenever we talk about disasters we have to take the environment into consideration. For example, when we have a hurricane, it is not just our human lives and our infrastructure that gets damaged, but you also have to think about the biodiversity in our areas. All of those are getting affected as well. A lot of times we have many species dying. Even if we take into consideration down south where all the forest fires, thousands of species of animals died and a lot of them are determinantal.”
UNICEF Belize’s participation in this event is also crucial. As Jenna Hoare, the Emergency Officer at UNICEF Belize, indicated, one billion children globally lives in disaster prone environments.
Jenna Hoare, Emergency Officer, UNICEF Belize
“What we understand and what we see on the ground is youth and children are among the most vulnerable group in disaster situations. So, this is why it is so important that we start from early on in educating young people on key concepts when we talk about disaster risk reduction and management. They play a very pivotal role throughout our country. They have innovative ideas. I remember talking to one of the young persons earlier and they are talking about how we can use AI to advance early warning systems. So, young persons play a very critical role.”
“We have something to say too you know, because we are in this generation. What they said, I was a teenager once, like what the adults say these days. I was a teenager once. Now we are the teenagers of this generation. The millennials could guh suh because this dah Gen Z time. So that is why we have something to say. We can relate to it. Like AI, my granny nuh know how to use AI. My mom, the other day I had to show she how to scan the network, you know weh I the she.”
At the government level, Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez, says the most important policy at this time is building resilience.
Andre Perez, Minister of Disaster Risk Management
“Of course it is what we are saying here, building resilience. We have to learn; we have to cope with this. We have to better prepare ourselves for when these things come. That is what is important and that is what is being highlighted and carried to the students, to the youth.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
The Santiago Ciau Invalidity Case Clarified
Belize Celebrates Taiwan Day and 35 Years of Friendship
On the other side of the globe, long-time allies of Belize celebrate National Taiwan Day on October tenth. Here in Belize, people are joining in on the celebration at the Taiwan Expo 2024. This expo celebrates thirty-five years of friendship between the two countries and allows Taiwanese businesses to enter the Belizean market. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there to meet some of the participants. Here’s the story.
October tenth, or Double Ten Day marks the founding of the Republic of China, Taiwan after they overthrew the Qing Dynasty and relocated to the small island off the coast of China. It is a day of pride for all Taiwanese citizens, and as Belize observes thirty-five years and diplomatic friendship with Taiwan, the celebration continues at the Taiwan Day Expo 2024, Goldie Lee, a member of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council provides more details.
Goldie Lee, Taiwan External Trade Development Council
“Our main mission is to help, to assist Taiwanese enterprises to expand their international trade. And for this year because it is the thirty-fifth anniversary for the diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Belize. So we are so happy and so glad for this Expo. We have twenty-one Taiwanese businesses here, and eight of them participating in person. The others participate by technicals and samples.”
Belizeans stopping by the expo were met with a range of products, from hardware to food and beverages and even the medical industry. Any Taiwanese business seeking to find a footing in the Belizean market was invited to participate. Sales representative for Kwang Yang Motor Company, Sawai Uhdong, landed in Belize on Wednesday. He is excited to showcase the scooters and ATVs that he believes Belizeans will gravitate to.
Sawai Uhdong, Sales Representative, KYMCO
“We actually doing overseas marketing. It’s over, I believe, thirty years. Now we’re seeking more opportunities all over the Central America and South America Cities and we believe Belize have, we have some products we believe it’s fit in the Belize cities.”
KYMCO is an environmentally conscious company that Lee believes will be an advantage when entering the Belizean market.
“We found that the people here, they are willing to promote I mean, they preserve their environment. And the product from KYMCO, this company, they also emphasize on protect the environment, therefore their products is really meet the need of this country.”
While many of the representatives flew in from Taiwan to participate, a few have already established business in Belize. Such as Yishen Chen from the Nine Six Shopping Center that has been operating in Belize City for over twenty years. Chen explains the joy she feels from being welcomed into Belizean culture.
Yishan Chen, Nine Six Shopping Center
“I personally really Belize, because compared to other places, like you said, Belize is a country really, people are very friendly and their life is very simple, we don’t have to be having a complicated or like a struggle life because, here the people is willing to help foreigners.”
On display were a variety of Taiwanese Pastries and snacks. Chen explains which ones are the store’s best sellers among Belizeans.
“But they also like this kind of mooncake. Not mooncake. We call it suncake, but it’s inside with some sweet fillings. I don’t know how to call that. It’s the sugar from, the sweetness from the wheat. Yeah, the sweetness from the wheat. But they like this. And also our Taiwanese famous mooncake. Pastries, which is this pineapple cake.”
The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, ICDF has been a long-time source of funding and educational opportunities for Belizeans.
Glendy Chiqin, District Health Educator
“We have people that would come that has never checked themselves. So it’s very important for us to be out there at every opportunity because like that we have people that would come and would find out whether they have high blood pressure, high glucose and start some kind of checking themselves. Yes, it’s not going to happen immediately, but they will have an idea of, oh hey, I need to do something about my health because my glucose is high or my blood pressure tested high today.”
The celebrations will continue into the evening with a ceremony highlighting the bond between Belize and Taiwan. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Improvements Coming to the Ports of Belize
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Last year, the Belize Port Authority sought consultants to conduct an economic and social impact study on the country’s ports. Now, over a year later, representatives and stakeholders have come together to discuss the study’s findings. We caught up with Kaylon Young, the Acting Port Commissioner, at the Belize Port Authority, to get more details on what they discovered.
Kaylon Young, Acting Post Commissioner
“Some of the key findings was that for one Belize does, the port does have a great impact on the economy first and foremost. But we can do better. There is room for improvement in terms of infrastructure at the ports, in terms of digitalization, in terms of efficiency. So how we could increase the efficiency of the ports, increase the infrastructure at the ports, to have a greater impact on our economy and the social being of Belizeans.”
The study highlighted that for Belize’s ports to stay competitive, they need to adapt to advancing technology. Ships are getting bigger and harder to handle, and without expanding, Belize’s port industry risks falling behind.
“So if we want to keep up with the times, keep up with the changing the infrastructure, keep up with the happenings in the maritime sector, we have to do some improvements, improve efficiency, improve in digitalization, and see how we can ensure that. As time changes we’re keeping up and we’re assisting in doing our part in building our economy and helping the communities.”
With the data now in hand, the Belize Port Authority will determine what recommendations can be made to enhance the port. Eduardo Lugo, CEO of Maritime and Logistics Consulting Group, which conducted the study, explained that their initial proposal focused on three main deliverables: evaluating Belize’s existing ports, conducting an economic and social impact assessment, and assessing the Belize Port Authority itself.
Eduardo Lugo, CEO, Maritime & Logistics Consulting Group
“We met with them and the position of the people working in the Belize Port Authority and the output of that study was what needs to be done to capture more value of the port sector in Belize. And how the Belize Port Authority, what measure do they need to take to improve their performance and to improve the port sector.”
The economic impact assessment was broken down into two models: cargo and cruise. Lugo explains the decision to separate them.
Eduardo Lugo
“In cargo, you have agricultural, for example. If you increase agriculture, then that impacts directly. In the port because of the export of agricultural products. But in the case of tourism, people fly from other countries to Belize. So they pay for airline tickets. They arrive in Belize. They pay taxis or they rent cars. They pay for hotels. They pay, they go to restaurants, for example. So it’s a different activity that needs to be measured in a different way. So that is the reason for making two separate studies or two separate models for that study.”
Eduardo Lugo
“The cruise activity, the cruise tourism has an economic impact of close to fpur point two percent of GDP in Belize. And the economic impact is one point three. For every dollar that, that the port receives, There are thirty additional cents in the economy due to cruise tourism.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
3,07 Miles of San Carlos Road Being Paved
Marion Ali, Reporting
The paving of three point zero seven miles of the San Carlos Road under the Resilient Rural Belize Program will begin shortly. The project is valued at one point one nine million dollars. Today Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai said that the current road has been traversed by villagers who are now engineers and persons at university level.
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“We have a highway now that leads you straight to the village of San Carlos. In those days, there wasn’t even a school in San Carlos. The kids had to walk to Indian Church to get their education. Those same kids who had to walk from San Carlos to Indian Church, are now engineers today. They’re agricultural engineers, one of them is studying in Cuba, he’s getting his Bachelor’s in Business. Those same kids who had to walk.”
Engineer with the MIDH, Irving Thimbriel explained that there had to be studies done before the work could begin.
Irving Thimbriel, Civil Engineer, MIDH
“Many times we have gotten roads that have affected the people who live near the edge of the road. So those things we have to take into account so that we can have an effective solution that covers all those things in the case of that project. Even though we didn’t do a complete study several times we came here to see the people of the village to know what can happen. When the road itself is finished, we take those things into account and we include them in the design of the road itself.”
Thimbriel says that after the technical studies are completed, they had to come up with a workable concept for the project.
“After that, we went to the office to do a development plan to come up with a concept. After all that, how high we have to raise the road, how wide it has to be, the places where there are weaknesses. And after going through all that, we came here to talk to the chairman to present the things we found.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
RCCBPO Opens New Location in Belize City
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The BPO industry is on the rise, and thousands of Belizeans across the country rely on it to make ends meet. Wednesday was a big day for Ready Call Center BPO as they celebrated the opening of their eighth location in Belize. Prime Minister John Briceño was there for the grand opening in Belize City, highlighting the significant contributions the BPO industry makes to the economy.
Prime Minister John Вrісеñо
“The BPO sector has come a long way from employing one thousand, one hundred and twenty-four persons and operating only in Belize City, Belmopan and Ladyville in 2013. Today in 2024, there are over sixteen thousand employees and I’m currently are seeing, we are seeing one more expansion in Belize City that will satisfy the exigencies of the BPO sectors growth. This is in line with the government’s projection to increase employment in this sector to twenty thousand by the year 2025.”
He went on to explain how the BPO sector significantly boosts Belize’s economy, with seventeen BPO companies collectively spending over one hundred and ninety-one million dollars in operating expenses within the country. The Founder and CEO of RCCBPO shared that, in the nineteen years since the company was founded, it has grown into a workplace that people are proud to be a part of.
Nubia Ramirez, Founder & CEO, RCCBPO
“Today marks the beginning of a new standard of excellence in infrastructure within the BPO industry in Belize. For many years, we work on developing a great tracking record of integral quality and now we are matching the infrastructure to the level of quality of our services. This new building is more than just a building. We designed this place thinking on a place that our employees and clients can enjoy and consider a home away from home. Most people picture a BPO only as a place where people take calls. We see it different. We see RCC as a place where people learn and develop skills.”
The Philippines has the largest BPO industry in the world, something that is being replicated in Latin America. David Long, Executive Vice President of RCCBPO, tells us how the company made the transition into the Belizean market.
David Long, Executive VP, RCCBPO
“When I came to Belize, I was coming from the Philippines and which the Philippines, as most of y’all know, is very well renowned in the BPO industry. I knew it was gonna be a challenge coming from the Philippines and stepping into the Belize environment just because the population infrastructure and some things I was concerned about. But through Nubia’s unwavering belief and Belize’s this potential. She really convinced me it was in the right place. And Belize had something really special to offer. And shortly after that, she made me a believer. So you fast forward twenty years later, when Nubian RCC rolled the dice coming to beliefs who could have imagined that we’d be standing here today, celebrating not only the growth of RCC, but the birth of an entire industry in Belize.”
In this expansion, RCCBPO has joined forces with outsourcing company Fusion CX. Kishore Saraogi, Co-founder and Director details what this expansion means for the companies.
Kishore Saraogi, Co-founder and Director Fusion CX
“It is with immense pride and joy that I stand before you to officially welcome RCCBPO into Fusion CX family. While some time has passed since we announced our strategic investment, RCCBPO. This is my first opportunity to interact and address all our team members and interact with you all. Just to provide you a brief background, Fusion CX is a global CX provider, having location in fourteen countries, fifteen thousand plus people working worldwide, so now you are part of a much broader family, and we welcome you all to the RCC family, to Fusion CX family At Fusion CX, we believe in partnerships rooted in shared value, a commitment to excellence and mutual growth.”
Britney Gordon for News Five.
Will the Sea Cucumber Industry Sink or Swim? A Look at Its Future Amidst Overfishing Concerns
The Vacuum Cleaners of the Sea
Sea cucumbers play a vital role in marine ecosystems and are an important fishery. Known as the ‘vacuum cleaners’ of the sea, they help maintain ocean floor health by recycling nutrients. These sea creatures break down detritus and improve sediment quality. The result is the boosting of marine biodiversity and productivity. Local sea cucumber researcher, Doctor Arlenie Rogers, Assistant Professor at the University of Belize, explained, “They are eating sediment from the seafloor, and when they excrete that, it is sand. So they oxygenate the seafloor as well. So that is the benefit of providing for the environment.”
Dr. Rogers explained that sea cucumbers serve as homes for different marine organisms like worms, snails, clams, algae, and microorganisms. Besides their role in the ecosystem, sea cucumbers are also important to humans, especially in many Asian countries where they are used for medicine and food. “They also provide other benefits, like they use them to make shampoos and cosmetics,” Dr. Rogers added.
Sea cucumbers are in high demand in global markets, especially in Asia, for their culinary and medicinal uses. They also provide livelihoods for many coastal communities, including those in Belize. The sea cucumber industry is “big business” and “millions of dollars,” according to what Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber told the House of Representatives on July 2, 2021. Minister of the Blue Economy, Abner “Andre” Perez agreed. He said, “Sea cucumber is something very lucrative, as we all know.”
It is also known that they are vital to ocean ecosystems. They act as natural recyclers of nutrients. However, global overharvesting, driven by high demand in East Asia, threatens their survival, including in Belize’s waters. Despite the importance of this fishery, Belize’s track record of poorly managed stock assessments, similar to its handling of lobster and conch, raises concerns about the future of sea cucumbers. Without better data and stronger management, Belize risks overexploiting yet another critical marine resource.
There are over 100 species of sea cucumber fished in more than 70 countries, making them increasingly vulnerable to overexploitation. Many fisheries follow boom-and-bust cycles, with catches rising and then quickly declining due to overfishing. Since the 1990s, sea cucumber fisheries have become global, with new fisheries expanding much faster than in previous decades. Overfishing has caused population declines in 81% of these fisheries, with smaller body sizes being harvested and a shift from high- to low-value species. Many fisheries lack regulation, and illegal catches are widespread.
Population Crash
The rise and fall of the sea cucumber fishery, which experienced rapid growth followed by a swift decline, serves as a cautionary tale. Former Minister for Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, and Sustainable Development, Dr. Omar Figueroa, explained why the decision was made to place a moratorium on sea cucumber harvesting. He said, “The data that we had in front of us was really pointing to a population crash when it comes to sea cucumbers.”
The fishery was not opened in 2017-2020 as the 2017 stock assessments showed declining stocks.
Sea cucumber fishing in Belize, though practiced for over two decades, became formally regulated in 2009 with the passing of Statutory Instrument 67, which introduced a closed season and limited licensing for the industry. Since then, licenses for sea cucumber harvesting have fluctuated between 70 and 80 permits annually, with quotas determined by an annual survey conducted by the Belize Fisheries Department. Initially, fishers received $3.50 BZD per pound of sea cucumber, but prices increased to $6.00 BZD per pound as demand grew. Some sea cucumbers can weigh as little as 1.6 oz.
In 2016, new regulations were introduced, including size limits, gutted weight specifications, fishing hours, and managed access requirements.
Further amendments in 2022 aimed to protect the fishery, with additional measures such as safeguarding spawning months, increasing size limits, and designating specific landing sites determined by the Fisheries Administrator. Despite its small scale, however, the sea cucumber fishery has gained significant attention from both buyers and fishers.
The Reopening of the New Sea Cucumber Season and the Impacts on Fishers
The Belize Sea Cucumber industry reopened on September 1, 2024, and is expected to close on January 31, 2025, or when the catch quota is realized. According to the Belize Fisheries Department, the only species of sea cucumber that will be permitted to be harvested is the Donkey Dung sea cucumber. The established quota is estimated at 175,000 lbs., or about 35,000 sea cucumbers. The legal size limit (minimum) is 16 cm in length. The gutted weight price (minimum) is BZD $5.00 per pound. The Department published the list of approved exporters: Rio Grande Fisherman Cooperative Society Limited, Rosendo Cassanova, Belize Ocean Catch Limited, and Zhang Imports.
In 2022, Belize’s sea cucumber fishery remained closed while awaiting the results of a stock assessment, which was completed in March 2023 by the Belize Fisheries Department in collaboration with the University of Belize. The “Commercial Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment to Determine Sustainable Quotas in Belize” report was produced. According to the report, the assessment focused on four fishing areas: Area 3 (covering the waters around the Cayes near the Placencia Peninsula and Placencia Lagoon), Area 5 (which includes the Port Honduras Marine Reserve), Area 6 (Turneffe Atoll), Area 7 (Lighthouse Reef Atoll), and Area 8 (Glover’s Reef Atoll). These are the areas where sea cucumber populations are most concentrated.
The survey gathered information on sea cucumber species, habitats, and depths using stratified random sampling at 22 stations with 81 sections, each 100 meters long and 4 meters wide. The most frequently found species were Florida sea cucumber, donkey dung, and chocolate chip cucumber, with Florida sea cucumber and donkey dung being the most abundant, particularly in Placencia Lagoon and surrounding islands. The assessment estimated a total population of 1.99 million Florida sea cucumber and donkey dung (equivalent to 249,8000 lbs of biomass) and 103,861 lbs of chocolate chip cucumber (103,800 lbs). To ensure sustainability, the annual harvest quota was set at a limit of an estimated 175,000 lbs for Florida sea cucumber and donkey dung. This quota is designed to balance the economic benefits of the fishery with the long-term health of sea cucumber populations.
In Belize, sea cucumber fishing is an important way to reduce pressure on other commercial fish species and provide additional income for local fishers. The report found, for example, that in the 2010-2011 period, income from sea cucumber fishing was reported to be 154 times higher than the minimum wage in Belize, which was $3.50 BZD at the time.
From 2009 to 2016, the sea cucumber fishery in Belize experienced varying production levels, often not meeting or slightly exceeding set quotas, with the fishery remaining closed from 2017 to 2020.
In 2021, the sea cucumber fishery was opened to all fishers with valid licenses to help them earn income lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, production was much lower than the set quota because many fishers were not fishing full-time, as COVID-19 remained a threat. Only two out of three exporters were buying sea cucumbers, and their purchases were minimal due to the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic.
Acting Fisheries Administrator Rigoberto Quintana explained how the 2024 season exporters were chosen.
We obtained minutes of 3 meetings (May 16, August 24, and October 13) that the Fisheries Council held at the Belize Fisheries Department Conference Room in Belize City. In attendance were key government officials, including CEO Kennedy Carrillo.
The sea cucumber industry was discussed in the context of it being an alternate livelihood for fishers. The government must expand protected areas to meet the Blue Bond agreement goals. But expanding the protected areas will potentially impact the livelihoods of fishers. And, to address this challenge, the ministry continues to explore alternative opportunities, including for fishers and their families to engage in sustainable activities like sea cucumber farming. According to the minutes, Felicia Cruz, Director of the Blue Economy Unit (BEU), said that the sea cucumber industry holds potential for great partnership and economic investment. While acknowledging concerns about wild stocks, Cruz pointed to promising opportunities in cultivating sea cucumber and other species such as stone crab, king crab, and seaweed. She noted that these resources are earmarked for potential mariculture development through public-private partnerships or investments. These are premium, high-value products, especially in Asian markets.
A Boom and Bust Industry?
The report also noted that while sea cucumber fisheries globally often experience periods of rapid growth followed by declines, it is crucial to apply precautionary measures and conduct stock assessments to ensure the long-term survival of these species. When asked how to ensure that the industry remains sustainable, Quintana said, “Well, the quota system that we have put in place, I think that will ensure that we only fish sustainably within the maximum sustainable yields.” According to Quintana, buyers will be required to record that data from fishers so they can track what is coming into the plant and what is being exported.
Renowned fisheries expert and principal investigator for Sea Around Us, Dr. Daniel Pauly, warns that sea cucumbers are extremely fragile. “A fishery for sea cucumber lasts about three, four years. And then there’s no more because the sea cucumbers apparently need to be like, let’s call it a herd. They need to be close to each other and the dense, the dense aggregation.”
Between 2011 and 2021, a study documented 97 incidents of sea cucumber crime in Mexico. This resulted in the seizure of over 100 metric tonnes of sea cucumbers by Mexican and U.S. authorities, valued at nearly $29.55 million. These incidents led to 125 arrests. In one major case in 2014, 34 metric tonnes of illegally caught sea cucumbers were seized on the Campeche Bank, while nearly 42 metric tonnes were confiscated by Mexico’s Navy between 2007 and 2016. The illegal sea cucumber trade in Mexico is extensive, with estimates suggesting that over 70% of the trade is unlawful. Authorities face significant challenges in tracking the amount of sea cucumbers being transported by land, sea, and air. In a striking 2018 U.S. case, two men tied to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s Sinaloa cartel were convicted for using fake seafood companies to launder drug profits by disguising narcotics shipments, including cocaine and fentanyl, as sea cucumbers. This operation, which generated over $19 million between 2013 and 2015, resulted in the indictment of 15 conspirators and the seizure of over $5 million worth of narcotics.
Let’s take a look at what happened to the Galápagos sea cucumber fishery. It was once highly profitable but collapsed in the early 2000s due to overfishing. A 5-year fishing ban (2016–2021) was implemented to help the population recover, but it has not been successful. Despite management efforts relying on population density as a key indicator for opening or closing the fishery, the species continues to be overexploited.
A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Marine Science applied a stock-production model to estimate critical population parameters for the first time. It revealed that the current management approach has failed for over a decade. The study recommends extending the fishing ban and using more reliable indicators like biomass and fishing mortality ratios to better manage the fishery. Without these changes, the fishery is unlikely to recover by 2030.
During a phone interview with Mario Salazar, maritime fisheries inspector in the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food in Guatemala, he revealed that “we did an analysis on the state of the sea cucumber fishery. And yes, we found out some Belizean groups came to fish here because sea cucumber can be exported (in Belize) but not in Guatemala.”
According to Dr. Pauly, most sea cucumber fisheries are inherently unsustainable. While they can generate substantial profits, this wealth often benefits only the fleet owners, particularly those from Taiwan and elsewhere in East Asia, rather than local communities. He stressed that the sea cucumber industry does not follow a “boom and bust” pattern because there is no cyclical recovery—once depleted, they do not return.
To ensure sustainable fisheries in Belize, Dr. Pauly suggested that available funds should be directed towards providing subsidies or paying monthly salaries during the fishing season. He stressed that the true goal should be high, sustainable catches rather than just pursuing sustainability alone.
A lesson from Jamaica
Dr. Alvaro Hernandez is a fisheries specialist. His focus is on sedentary resources such as sea cucumbers and lobsters—species that depend on the seabed. He was hired by the Food and Agriculture Organization to conduct a technical study of the sea cucumber industry in Jamaica. It is titled, “Capacity-building in resource assessment and management of the Jamaican Sea Cucumber fishery and potential for aquaculture development.” The study began in 2015. According to the report, Jamaica views its marine resources as crucial for national development and food security.
Sea cucumbers, though not traditionally consumed by Jamaicans, are gaining attention from locals due to rising global demand. Jamaican commercial entities are exploiting sea cucumber stocks for export, but there is limited information on stock levels, fishing pressure, and export values. In response, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries initiated a project to enhance the Fisheries Division’s capacity for sustainable sea cucumber management. The project included two field surveys, training for local fisheries managers and fishers in survey design and diving, and the application of new data analysis techniques. A preliminary stock assessment was completed and used to develop a management plan in consultation with stakeholders. A desktop study was conducted to assess the potential for developing sea cucumber aquaculture in Jamaica. It covered key areas such as broodstock management, spawning techniques, hatchery methods, grow-out, harvesting, and restocking. The study also offered insights into selecting suitable locations and outlined the initial experiments needed to explore the feasibility of establishing sea cucumber farming in the region. These efforts aim to establish a sustainable management framework for sea cucumbers, supporting the social and economic sustainability of local communities. The Ministry has indicated that the findings and management plan will be used to guide future decisions on the sea cucumber fishery.
According to Dr. Hernandez, sea cucumbers are considered an underutilised species with potential for development, but there is currently insufficient technical expertise for their assessment, management, and monitoring in Jamaica. The high export demand is driving poorly regulated harvesting, which risks overexploitation and collapse of the fishery. He said it is crucial for the Jamaican government and stakeholders to enhance their capacity to manage this fishery effectively and ensure its sustainability.
Dr. Hernandez’s report found that sustainable sea cucumber resources can foster a viable fishery that supports social and economic sustainability. He said that the development of this fishery also aligns with a human rights-based approach. Training provided to fisheries managers and fishers in field diving surveys, stock assessment, and management planning has built the necessary capacity and technology for ongoing sustainable practices. According to Dr. Hernandez, the project also prioritised gender equity by involving both male and female stakeholders, considering their distinct roles in the fishery.
Microplastics in Sea Cucumbers
In 2021, Dr. Rogers, along with associates, published a study showing that micro- and macroplastics are present in the digestive tract of sea cucumbers in the Placencia Lagoon.
The study found that microplastics are growing pollutant in our oceans. While it’s been documented that many marine animals ingest microplastics, there hasn’t been much research on sea cucumbers, especially in the Caribbean. In this study, microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of the Florida sea cucumber, which was collected from Placencia Lagoon, which is near a busy tourist and fishing community, where solid waste is often dumped directly into the sea cucumber’s habitat.
According to Dr. Rogers, these findings raise concerns about the potential chemical effects of these plastics on human health, particularly since sea cucumber intestines are considered a delicacy in some Asian countries. Important to note is that Belize does not currently export sea cucumber intestines.
A Lot Is At Risk
The decision to reopen Belize’s sea cucumber fishery in 2024 hinges on optimistic stock assessments, but the risks tied to past overexploitation and lack of transparency remain pressing concerns. The sea cucumber fishery’s history is a stark warning of what unchecked harvesting can lead to. While the introduction of regulated quotas, species restrictions, and size limits is encouraging, it is vital that these measures are enforced effectively. Collaboration among government bodies, fisheries experts, and local communities is essential to prevent a repeat of past mistakes. Additionally, new, invisible threats like microplastics pose unprecedented risks to marine ecosystems. Vigilant oversight and adaptive management will be key to navigating these uncertainties and ensuring a sustainable future for Belize’s marine resources.
“This story was produced with support from the Earth Journalism Network.”
By Hipolito Novelo, Digital Editor
Taiwan Embassy Celebrates National Day with 2024 Expo in Belize City
Taiwan’s 113th National Day is being commemorated today. In Belize, the Embassy of Taiwan and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) inaugurated the 2024 Taiwan Expo this morning at the Caribbean Motors facility in Belize City. The event started at 9 a.m., and the public was invited to explore a variety of business booths showcasing Taiwanese products.
“TAITRA is mainly to help small and medium enterprises in Taiwan to expand their international trade,” said a representative, Goldie Lee, in the morning show Open Your Eyes. She explained that TAITRA is comprised of 1300 specialists distributed locally and internationally.
Chad Dietrich from Caribbean Motors announced their recent partnership with Kymco, a well-known brand in the motorcycle industry. “We just brought in our first container of Kymco cycles just a few weeks ago,” Dietrich said.
This year’s Expo will also feature “hardware, auto parts, skin care, health products, medical products, as well as motorcycles,” Lee said. She added that in addition to business, TAITRA is seeking to share Taiwanese culture with the Belizean community.
The Taiwan Expo 2024 will continue through Saturday and is free to the public.