The Belize Flats Fishery Association (BFFA) is calling on the government to urgently intervene in the ongoing degradation of Belize’s vital mangrove ecosystems, warning that continued inaction threatens the country’s marine life, coastal protection, and the livelihoods of thousands.
At a press conference held this morning in Belize City, members of the BFFA, joined by several environmental and community organizations, raised serious concerns over unchecked coastal development, specifically highlighting the controversial Cayo Rosario Project in San Pedro as a prime example of development that could have devastating environmental consequences.
The association, which represents local fishing guides and other stakeholders dependent on healthy flats ecosystems, released a press statement earlier this month demanding immediate government action.
Dr. Addiel Perez, a leading marine scientist who attended the press conference, emphasized the urgency of the issue:
“Today I joined [the] press conference… being led by the Belize Flats Fishery Association. Concerns [are rising] about development in different parts of the country, from Caye Caulker all the way to the Stann Creek area,” he said. “Stakeholders are worried that these developments are gonna cause long-term effects on the environment—the ecosystems that they depend on.”
The BFFA says it’s no longer enough to make promises, they want to see action. As they put it: “It’s time to put nature first and we’re not backing down.”