G.O.B. Developing Fisheries National Enforcement Strategy

In its attempt to strengthen governance, management and monitoring of Belize’s coastal and marine resources, the Government of Belize is developing a National Enforcement and Conservation Strategy.  To this end, the Blue Bond Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister is hosting a two-day workshop where stakeholders are getting an opportunity to have their say in the process. The goal is to identify the gaps, needs and opportunities to enhance fisheries enforcement and conservation monitoring. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped in at day the Princess Hotel for day one of the workshop. He filed the following report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Government of Belize is working to develop a national enforcement and conservation monitoring strategy for the country’s blue spaces. The current enforcement and conservation strategy was put in place for a period of five years, starting in 2013. That strategy is long outdated, so fisheries stakeholders have been meeting in Belize City to discuss existing threats to Belize’s marine ecosystem and ways to address those threats. We spoke with Kennedy Carillo, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Blue Economy.

 

Kennedy Carillo, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Blue Economy

“I think many times one of the misinformation that is out there is that our country is in danger, our fisheries stock is in danger. If you speak to any of these stakeholders, they will tell you that they understand that this is definitely not true, but in addition to that they understand the important role of the Fisheries Department in ensuring there is proper management of the stock. This Blue Bond Agreement provides the country with an opportunity to continue to conserve, continue to be champions of conservation of our marine diversity but also an opportunity to provide that balance, that balance of yes we want to conserve but we also want to ensure we are prioritizing the livelihood of the communities that are dependent on our resources for many years and to look at how a new ministry such as the Blue Economy can do this in a manner that is sustainable, responsible but also inclusive.”

 

We also heard from Rigoborto Quintana, the Acting Fisheries Administrator in the Fisheries Department. Quintana explained that one of Belize’s commitments under the Blue Bond is to expand biodiversity protection areas. But, with expanded conservation areas comes the need for greater enforcement presence.

 

Rigoborto Quintana, Acting Fisheries Administrator

“One of the primary areas under the conservation commitment under the Blue Bond, we have been expanding to have more biodiversity protection areas and we need to have more enforcement presence in those areas and that is why we are partnering with the Belize Coast Guard, for example, they are getting more enforcement capabilities in terms of aerial surveillance and that is one of the areas that will be integrated in the strategy to look at modern technology for enforcement.”

 

 

Paul Lopez

“As it currently stands, what is the greatest threat to fisheries in Belize at this point?”

 

Rigoborto Quinta

“I think you have to look at coastal development activities, climate change impact and to some extent the illegal movement of products to our neighboring countries.”

 

On the enforcement front, the Belize Coast Guard works closely with the Fisheries Department. Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, says that coast guard officers are equipped to identify fisheries infractions and make detentions. Today, the Belize Coast Guard announced that they are set to receive four military classified drones to increase their aerial enforcement capacity.

 

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“One of those gaps is the air domain. We have always been challenged with the areas of surveillance in our sea spaces, particular our areas of interest for the most part is along the border regions, Belize/Guatemala, Belize/Honduras, Belize/Mexico where enforcement is difficult for us. We have identified the need to develop air capability and that is what we are doing through the Blue Bond program, through the government’s strategic allocation. We have acquired funds to acquire unmanned air vehicles so that will be able to deliver a lot of these capabilities to manage our blue spaces to the best of our ability. We are acquiring those thrones, two should be in country next week and two should be in country later this year. That should give us some very interesting capabilities. WE are looking at UAV that can do up to five hours of flight time, thirteen thousand feet and it can do up to one-hundred-kilometer range.”

 

And, if there are any questions as to whether the contributions made by stakeholders during these workshops will materialize into a practical national enforcement and conservation strategy, Belizario Carballo, a technical officer within the Blue Bond Unit, says the directives to undertake this process came from Prime Minister, John Briceno.

 

 

 

Belizario Carballo, Technical Officer, Blue Bond Unit

“This is a two-day workshop, and it will provide the context for this national strategy and action plan. As we mentioned we want to make sure it is actionable and once we get out of this we work directly with our partners, those that are legally mandated to enforce this and along with other support from our agencies. We have support from the Belize Fund and the Nature Conservancy. They provide technical and financial support. We are looking at strengthening the effectiveness of fisheries support and monitoring that will benefit a beneficial ocean for nature and people. Key to this is not only protection but to secure the livelihoods of all Belizeans. There is very much support at the highest level of government so I can assure you that we will follow through with this plan.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.