2024-09-26 - Channel 5 Belize

Belize Stone Crab Season Opens: What You Need to Know

The Florida Stone Crab fishing season opens on October 1st, 2024, and ends on June 30th, 2025.

The Belize Fisheries Department reminded fishermen to adhere to regulations, including obtaining fishing licenses and using traps with escape gaps and biodegradable panels for stone crab. “A person who intends to fish or export stone crab shall apply to the Fisheries Administrator for a stone crab fishing or export license,” the department said.

Key regulations include the requirement for traps to have an escape gap of at least 2 3/8 inches and a biodegradable panel. The department also prohibits fishing, selling, or possessing stone crab from July 1 to September 30, although licensed fishers may set traps from September 15 without harvesting.

Restrictions are in place for the size of claws, which must measure at least 3 inches in length, and the retention of whole stone crabs is not allowed. Fishermen must also release any caught crabs immediately after claw removal.

The department emphasised, “No person shall fish for the stone crab unless equipped with a ruler or calliper on-board the vessel.”

Belize Conch Season Opens Soon: What You Need to Know

Fishermen in Belize gear up for a highly anticipated opening of Queen Conch fishing season on October 1st, 2024, to June 30th, 2025. The Belize Fisheries Department Administrator warns that the season could close early if the conch production quota is met.

Key regulations regarding Queen Conch include a ban on harvesting conch from July 1st to September 30th each year.

Conch must exceed 7 inches (17.8 cm) in shell length, with unprocessed conch not exceeding 7 ½ ounces (213 grammes), partially processed conch limited to 3 ounces (85 grammes), and fully processed conch capped at 2 ¾ ounces (78 grammes).

Additionally, diced or fillet conch meat can only be bought, sold, or possessed under a special permit from the Fisheries Administrator.

Exporting conch beyond the permitted quota is also prohibited.

Tupperware Files for Bankruptcy

Tupperware, once a staple of American kitchens, filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Tuesday. The company’s decline follows years of dwindling sales and failure to adapt to modern retail, relying heavily on independent sales representatives.

Tupperware’s iconic food storage containers peaked their popularity in the 1950s with its innovative “Tupperware parties,” which empowered women.

“Nearly everyone now knows what Tupperware is, but fewer people know where to find it,” said Chief Restructuring Officer Brian Fox in a court filing. The company has been grappling with liquidity issues and reported $812 million in debt.

Tupperware plans to continue operations while seeking a buyer through a 30-day bidding process. “Even with a recently restructured balance sheet and a temporary financial boost, Tupperware’s high leverage, declining sales, and shrinking profit margins were too much to overcome,” noted James Gellert, executive chairman at RapidRatings.

Young Environmental Scientists Competition Opens for 2024

Macmillan Education Caribbean has launched the 2024 Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Competition, inviting students aged 7–18 across the Caribbean to submit innovative ideas focused on sustainable cities and communities. The competition, which aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, began on September 23.

It features two categories: primary (ages 7–11), emphasising practical solutions for sustainable living, and secondary (ages 11–18), focussing on resilience and inclusivity. Registration requires teacher support, and participants will receive an information pack detailing competition tasks.

Winners will earn prizes, including lab equipment for their schools and workshops with science experts. Judging will be conducted by a panel of scientific experts, with results announced after the competition closes on November 29, 2024.

For more details, visit www.macmillan-education.com or email caribbean@macmillaneducation.com.