BZD $450,000 Pledged for Shark Conservation in Belize

A new commitment of BZD $450,000 from surfwear brand Matuse, the Andy Sabin Foundation, and the Global FinPrint Project aims to support shark conservation efforts in Belize’s renowned Glover’s Reef, Lighthouse Reef, and Turneffe Atolls. A study by Global FinPrint in 2023 highlighted these atolls as top locations for coral reef sharks, which have seen a global decline of 63%.

In response to this decline, the Government of Belize banned shark fishing in these areas and within two miles around them in 2021. The newly committed funding to be distributed over four years will help employ local shark fishers affected by this ban. “This will provide important information to help the Government of Belize ensure these protections are working,” said Beverly Wade in a statement, Director of the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit.

The funding will enable fishers to monitor shark populations using underwater video stations instead of fishing.

Shark species like the nurse shark and Caribbean reef shark are significant attractions for tourists in Belize. Wade noted, “Tourists come to Belize to experience our beautiful coral reefs, and sharks are one of the main reef animals that they love to see.”